It Was A Rainy Day At BMO

Mood: *SIGH*

State Of Mind: *SIGH*

Location: Hiding under a pile of TFC SSH scarves 

Well that was fun, wasn't it? Seriously - didn't you enjoy sitting in the gusting winds, the rain, the half-full stadium at kickoff - all to watch our team put in a listless, disorganized performance? You didn't? Good. Neither did I.

I am (as it says at the top) relentlessly optimistic when it comes to TFC, but oh they do make it difficult to maintain that optimism when they put in performances like yesterday.

However, first I'd like to mention (read: rant about) the poor attendance for kick-off.  Here is what the East Stands and part of the South Stands looked like right before kick-off yesterday.

Does this look like a supportive, excited, here for our team kind of crowd to you? I know it was an early start. I know that there was limited parking and that part of the Yonge Subway line was closed. And I know that the weather was not what you would call optimal. The early start - get the hell out of bed an hour early, have some coffee and deal with it. The parking & transit issues had been well publicized by the team and was all over twitter, facebook as well as email reminders - there are numerous ways to get to BMO; it was easy to avoid the shutdown between Yonge and Union, the GO Train is a great option; etc. etc...The weather - you know as well as I do that the weather is going to be crap at BMO 50-75% off the time - are you really telling me that you're literally a fair weather fan? If so, please sell your tickets and only come to matches during the two or three nice days we get at BMO each year. For just one game I would like to see a full house BEFORE KICKOFF. Why? Because that's what passionate fans who care about their team do! They show up and are present for their team!

The performance - well, I certainly expected a much more umm, how shall I put it - cohesive, competitive, ah hell; just plain good performance.  I realize that our defense has struggled this year (and the year before and the one before that, and so on and so on) but the loss of Frings should not mean that it turns into a free for all out there. That admonishment about leaving Wondolowkie unmarked? Remember, dangerous striker and all that? Ignored. That fear (that we all share) about Ty Harden stepping onto the pitch - completely realized. The hope that Aceval would step up? Actually, some of that hope was realized as I felt that most of the time Miguel put in a decent performance in the middle. He made more right moves than not. Ecks (although I continue to enjoy his all out effort every match) and Morgan weren't terrible but the entire back four once again lacked any sort of communication and organization that lasted for any length of time.  Poor man marking and communication is what cost the team the game tonight.

Hey midfielders and strikers - don't think you've escaped my ire - not all of you mind but...Danny K...what is with the fitness thing? How many months does it take to get match fit? I like Danny, celebrated his amazing strike rate last year and had hoped that the pairing of he and RJ9 would lead to great things; but he has been lukewarm at best so far this season. Granted he looked a little sharper yesterday but we need him to be razor sharp going forward. Ryan Johnson was oh so close several times but didn't seem to have his usual finesse and was definitely not on his game. And Joao...that sophomore slump is hitting pretty hard isn't it?  Reggie Lambe proved me wrong (I was not happy to see him in the S11) with a pretty solid performance - he was fast, focused and had some nice movement. Terry Dunfield also had a decent performance - more of that calm thoughtful play please, but JDG seemingly reverted back to type with a lacklustre passing game (shocking) and poor presence in the midfield. 

I don't like being down on my team - I wouldn't have missed the home opener (or most matches actually) for anything, but oh it would be lovely if the joy and excitement that we felt less than two weeks ago, could continue for longer than a few days at a time.  I know that they're struggling with the loss of Frings and Frei and that has to weigh on a team.  The conditions were not ideal to play in but hey, San Jose played in those exact same conditions. And there were some good stretches where the team played well and seemed to be righting the ship but then that lack of organization at the back and in the midfield came roaring back to bite them in the ass. The team needs to come together while missing Frings - there needs to be a voice on the pitch game in game out keeping them on track.  Who that is remains to be seen; perhaps Julian will step up on Wednesday and keep the team focused - I certainly hope he does. 

Again, I don't think this is the end of the season - there should be no calls to fire everyone and start over - this is a team that can win. This is a team that can still have the breakout season that we've all been waiting for. I expect to see them fired up on Wednesday night, ready to put in that complete effort that we have seen from them more than once this year. Boys you've got three days to get focused, get pumped and get ready to show us that you want this. We'll be there cheering you on every step of the way; just give us something to cheer about.

TFC TIL I DIE

Note: Dear Ref - why did you not card Leinhart after numerous infractions?  He certainly earned them time and time again. Just a thought for next time. Thanks.

Links-A-Lot: Here are your usual suspects for added analysis and post-match breakdowns: Waking The Red, The Yorkies , Partially Obstructed View and Red Nation Online

Home Opener Bitches!

Mood: Super, crazy excited!!
State of Mind: Optimistic, hell super optimistic! And wide awake!
Weather Report: What do you think? Do you even go to games? It's raining; as always. 


All right boys and girls it's home opener time!! This is the day we've waited for - the day when we all march down to BMO to cheer our Reds onto victory!! You know the drill - get up, grab coffee (or your favourite form of caffeine), get kitted out in your best TFC gear (or at the very least something red!) and get your butt to BMO! And by get your butt to BMO I mean BEFORE the match starts!!  Let's start Season 6 (or SIXual Healing as per The Yorkies) off right and actually be in your seats before kickoff. I know, I know; it's an early start - 1pm is not the best starting time - but that's no damn excuse!! We are fans; we are supporters; we love our team - we should be there to you know, actually cheer them on when they take the field. Not ten minutes into the bloody game. So be there on time, in red, in full voice and ready to cheer for TFC!


What am I expecting today? I'm expecting TFC to shake off the loss to Seattle last week; to put behind them the distractions from the injuries to Frings & Frei (check out WTR's story) and to show that they are a different team. One that can overcome their defensive issues; keep possession and score goals.  San Jose is by no means an unbeatable opponent even if they are one of the clubs that that TFC has been supplying players to over the years (TFC; the MLS feeder club!). Former Red favourite Alan Gordon is unlikely to play, but perennially missed midfielder Sam Cronin (oh Sam, we do miss you) is likely to be out there frustrating our players and attempting to set-up Chris Wondolowski (or Wondo if you prefer), one of the most dangerous strikers in the MLS - Do not leave this man unmarked!!  OK - that's my lazy attempt at analysis for today. For far more thorough check out the links at the bottom.


  Today all that matters is that we get to see our team, in OUR HOME for the first time this season!!  This is what we wait for, this is where we want to be for the next 7 months, our Fortress BMO.  Remember - we are the 12th man; we have a job to do - support (wear red, clap, chant, yell, sing) and make it clear to opposing teams that this is not a place where you stroll in and steal 3 points.


So wake up everyone!!  Get ready (and get your rain gear; I did warn you about the rain) to cheer our boys onto victory!!


COME ON YOU REDS!!  TFC, T-O-R, OOOOOO, TFC!


Lazy Links: The Yorkies and Waking The Red (James and Dave).

Oh Captain, My Captain!

Mood: Sad, resigned, but not ready to jump off the ledge.


Today came the devastating news that TFC captain Torsten Frings would be out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury that he suffered executing a perfect (and goal preventing) tackle in their loss to Seattle on Saturday. The screams and cries of dismay could be heard throughout the twittersphere as everyone reacted to the news that we were all hoping not to hear.  The reaction is perhaps best illustrated by the always brilliant comic strip East Side Stand Up by Paul Marhue.  There is no way to find the silver lining in this announcement - as I've said many times Torsten Frings is simply the best player to every put on a TFC kit - there is no way to replace a player of his caliber.


However; as upset as we all are by his injury, losing him for the next several weeks and even the turf that played a huge part in causing the injury (likely would not have happened on a grass pitch) we have to move past it. Dwelling and moaning and saying "if only" isn't going to make him heal any faster - this is football; players get hurt; teams still have to play week in and week out.


Of course the big questions are who will bolster the back line? Who will step up and take charge of the still shaky defense? And who will wear the captain's armband in Frings' absence?  A bit of twitter silliness (see we can still laugh) this afternoon had us speculating that perhaps Ty would be "the man"...we were kidding, geez relax...didn't you laugh just a little? After crying out in horror that is...not even a giggle? Okay, okay,  back to the issue at hand.  


Again, these questions have no easy answers - can Aceval become the commanding presence in the centre? Will one of the fullbacks be asked to move over and take on one of the central roles? Will JDG finally play like a DP and be that link that controls the play and the midfield? Will there be a last minute signing or just do we just hope that Adrian Cann really is only a couple of weeks away from rejoining the team on the field? Those questions won't even begin to be answered until Saturday when the first sans-Frings S11 gets announced.


To me as a fan what's been heartening has been the response of the rest of the team - they've all been stating not just their willingness to fight but they've acknowledged that the entire team cannot rest on the talents of just one player.  The always straight talking Ecks likely said it best in an interview at training by simply stating "Get on with it - everyone has to step up in Frings' absence".  Get on with it - best response ever.


I'm not saying that we as fans shouldn't be nervous or concerned about the next month and a half; at the same time this shouldn't be the cue to sound the death knell on the season. If our team is that reliant on one player then why bother playing at all? I for one am very interested; even a little excited to see how the team reacts over these next few weeks - and it is only a few weeks; not the entire season. I want to see them fight and come together and show that this season is indeed different; that they're a different team who won't crumple at the first sign of adversity.  


This Saturday come rain (it's probably going to be rain, sorry) or shine I will be in my seat ready to cheer on the boys in red at our home opener. I won't be thinking "oh man please don't let them lose" - no, I'm going to be confident that they will be fired up, focused and that they will win.


Come On You Reds - All Of You.


Lamenting Links: Waking the Red, The Yorkies,