Mood: Tired but sort of optimistic
State of Mind: 10 days without TFC is too long
Location: Sleepy supporter's couch
Am I dreaming? Did our Reds actually win 3 games in a row for the first time in FOUR years? You're sure I'm not dreaming? Yes! It's a bona fide streak! Say it with me; "winning streak"...sounds odd doesn't it? But it sure is fun to say. Seriously, cast your mind back all those days ago...
The weather gods smiled upon the crowd (well, it seemed a bit more crowded than the week before) at BMO as the wind (winds of change? Ok, that's a bit much) blew in and brought us a gift - a fairly decisive win by our Reds. Actually, the only suffering the fans had to do was endure 50-odd minutes of RJ9's stunning inability to finish.
Other than the stunning weather the game started off in typical TFC fashion; no they didn't immediately go down a goal and in fact came out strong. But after Luis Silva was fouled in the box who should step up to take the PK? None other than Ryan Johnson...everyone around me was in agreement - there was no way he was going to make this and he didn't let us down managing to not even put it on net...sigh.
But that second half? That was a hell of a lot of fun wasn't it? RJ scored! Seriously, I'm not kidding - he put one past the keeper and woot! It's a tie (oh yeah, the other team scored in the first). And then right in the middle of what is becoming a regular thing (hell it was requested) which is our epic performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" - OK epic is overstating as we're still forgetting some of the words but it's still awesome - Andrew Wiederman (He da man!) deflected a Silva shot into the net. Jubilation! And that's how it would end. Our Reds with a 2-1 win and a three game win streak to call their own!
The second half of that game really was a good performance by our Reds. The continuing strong play of Ashtone Morgan with his ability to send in crosses and the movement and lovely runs of Luis Silva were on display. As was the excellent play of Ecks who put in one of his best performances as a converted CB (hand on Ecks, help is not coming anytime soon). It was a very complete team performance and for me was the first actual sign that things may be turning around for this team.
This is not to knock the team's performance leading up to that game (or the goals scored) but consistency is key and our boys are seemingly finding a way to consistently score goals and win or fight back in games. Having two different goal scorers two games in a row (neither named Danny) is a huge positive and a hope that this team will not completely fall apart without the our main target man for the rest of the season.
If for some reason you didn't watch that game and/or haven't read any recaps here are your usual suspects: The Yorkies, Waking The Red and Red Nation Online.
Time to turn our gaze to this afternoon's match. This match will be a telling one in terms of seeing how far our Reds have actually come. They've had 10 days off, said goodbye to some players (so long Miguel), said hello to some new ones - Quincy (or Dr. Quincy as I'm calling him) Amarikwa, Eric "The Red Card" Hassli and Freddy Hall (maybe) - come on down! You're the next contestants on the TFC roster! And played some sort of game against some players from England or something in between. *sorry for all those links but I've had a rough stretch and well, these fine folks have written some excellent stuff.*
Coming to town this sunny (and still not rainy) afternoon are the now and forever infamous Houston Dynamo. Infamous for the "Escobar 3" incident and that awful come from behind draw that they laid on our boys the last time. Both teams are on a three game win streak and Houston does not have the most amazing record against TFC at BMO. However (always with the however) this game is much different than the Colorado game. While the Rapids are a team in a steep decline the Dynamo are anything but. They've got Will Bruin (remember him?), Brad Davis and newish DP, midfielder Boniek Garcia; all incredibly dangerous and the first two have long been thorns in TFC's side. And while TFC have managed to eke themselves out of the MLS basement (thanks to the spectacularly free-falling Timbers - so many jokes, so little time) the Dynamo sit third in the Eastern Conference and sixth in the MLS. Not too shabby and just a bit worrisome for our team as they look to win Four In A Row and put the stamp of respectability on this season.
With two fairly untested new forwards in Wiederman and Amarikwa and Hassli unlikely to see action today, as well as the still injured Jeremy Hall unable to play, we'll likely see the same lineup we did all those days ago against Colorado. I see no reason why Mariner would make any changes unless Adrian Cann did enough in that match against that English team and in training to come back and resume his place as CB. I find it unlikely though and expect to see Ecks and Logan doing their best imitation of a CB pairing yet again. What you ask? We didn't sign a CB during the transfer window? Sadly no; all kinds of shenanigans appear to have occurred and I will touch base on that tomorrow. But for now this is what we've got. We've waited 6 years, what's a little longer, right? Sigh.
While this game doesn't fill me with dread neither do I have an overwhelming "they're going to do it" feeling. Do I think they'll compete and not put on a nightmare performance? Absolutely. I expect that this will be a hard fought game and that our boys will show some resilience and consistency of play. But this is a very good team that our Reds are facing and they do not always rise to the occasion when faced with better opponents. This is one of those games that you look at as a watershed moment. Not that a three game win streak for the first time in four years isn't saying something but if this team wants to actually progress, now would be the time to show it.
I of course hope that they prove me wrong and soundly trounce the Dynamo because well, that would be fantastic. I'm also hoping that (Beer Festival notwithstanding) to see a packed house today. Although the number of tweeps offering up their tickets in the past couple of days seems to say otherwise. As for me, I'll be there as always; anxious, excited and hopeful. Let's do this boys.
COME ON YOU REDS!!
Late Links: The Yorkies, Waking The Red (Duncan & James) and Red Nation Online.
Showing posts with label Miguel Aceval. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miguel Aceval. Show all posts
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Season Six 2.OH NO...
Mood: Confused/Irritated
State of Mind: Getting sick of the TFC Time Machine & Soap Opera
Location: The land of here we go again
*Apologies for the lack of blogging (for the 4 or 5 of you that have been wondering that is); life interferes so again, sorry! Although you may not want to read yet more doom and gloom; but if you're still feeling annoyed with the team's performance on Saturday and today's really fun news from Houston then read on...*
Saturday first:
Feeling masochistic? Watch it again...
Well that was shall we say less than fun to watch eh? It's been three weeks since we'd seen our boys play and I for one was hoping to put aside the drama of the Winter firing (yes, he was fired, deal with it) and the Mariner appointment (winner of TFC Survivor) and focus on the next new beginning for our boys in Red. Sadly it would appear that the team did not get the new beginning memo and thought they were supposed to emulate the beginning of this season.
Mariner immediately moved the team away from the 4-3-3 of the previous regime to his preferred (pay no attention to his no systems blather) 4-4-2 with Danny and RJ being paired up top. And the back 4 (which had been performing much better) saw a change with Jeremy Hall in the place of Ashtone Morgan who was being rested after travelling with the CMNT (since he didn't play a minute). OK, so some changes - change can be good right? All I was hoping for was to see the team build off of the positive performances they showed heading into the break and go out and compete. I didn't expect a win - especially not against SKC at home - but I did expect them to fight and show us that they can roll with the punches.
What we got was a horrific defensive performance the likes of which we haven't seen since well 6 or 8 weeks ago. It was an effort (and I hesitate to call it that) that showed zero ability to man mark, clear the ball cleanly and read the play. It was maddening to see the seemingly acres of space being conceded to SKC as they again and again easily got forward into dangerous areas. The TFC defense looking like they'd never playing a minute together, were clearly confused and showed none of the promise from 3 weeks ago. By the time the half was called it was 2-0 for the team in blue. In fact only some nice work from Kocic and a couple TFCesque near misses kept the score that close.
Complementing the defense in a truly comedic way was the ongoing inability of the forwards to score. Yes that two post ping-pong miss by Avila was heartbreaking in its "are you kidding me" aspect; and in fact Avi was one of the few bright spots on the night. However that does nothing to excuse the continuing inability of Danny K. to put the ball in the net. He missed at least two clear chances, not to mention being right there when Avi's ball came off the second post - to me he was operating at half speed (of half motivation) all night. His job is to score goals and he's not doing it; he appears to finally be back at full fitness so when can we expect to see him producing?
All in all it was an uninspiring, underwhelming, amateur performance from our boys. I don't care that Paul Mariner was super animated on the side line all night and that he "coached them for every minute" - the animation level of my team's coach does nothing to convince me that things are moving in the right direction. Especially a coach that thinks his team was sensational with the exception of the first 20 minutes of the game (really Paul? Sensational?). I did not enjoy watching them punt the ball and run around aimlessly for most of the 90 minutes. But they looked better during the second half you say? I said the same thing until I watched the game again; SKC completely let up in the second - they had done what needed to be done and did just enough to keep our boys off of the score sheet.
I will give some ground due to the fact that this was their first game back after the break and that they are adjusting to a new coach and yes, a new system. I'm certainly not ready to write them off - although am I ever? - and think there is an opportunity for the team such as they are to come together. But watching your team go 1-10 amid (and in part due to) continual drama behind the scenes is frustrating as a fan. Here's a musical thought before moving on to today's episode of "As The TFC Turns"...
Link It Up Baby: Here's the usual suspects for your usual thorough breakdown of the match: The Yorkies, Duncan from WTR at Sportsnet, Red Nation Online and Mistake By The Lake.
Monday Mayhem:
So today after everyone was coming to terms with Saturday night's underwhelming performance and were looking ahead to Wednesday night's match against the Dynamo, came the news that three of TFC's players had been arrested for public drunkenness and thrown in jail. Seriously; I can't make stuff like this up. The unlikely trio of Miguel Aceval, Nick Soolsma and Luis Silva (check out the mug shots - Aceval's "could care less" to Soolsma & Silva's "what the hell have we done") were out very late at Club Escobar in Houston and ended their night in the custody of the Houston PD. This is not the next step in the team's new beginning that we were looking for. I've heard talk of "boys will be boys" and "hey, who hasn't been drunk in public before" as comments and well I don't agree.
I have nothing against the guys going out to blow off some steam; hell if you played for TFC wouldn't you want to go out for a drink or two (or five or six)? I completely get that, I do. What I question is the decision making by both the players for tying one on and the team for allowing the players to head out for a night on the town that close to a match; shouldn't they be focusing on getting their heads wrapped around the new system and you know, winning? There are questions about whether or not the TFC3 had permission to be out that late (really boys? 3am?) or if they were breaking curfew or whatnot. What it comes down to is this is yet another depressingly embarrassing moment in the club's not so storied history. Another unnecessary distraction for a team that really needs everyone focused on what's happening on the field.
I have no idea what happens next for the trio; I have to assume that some combination of fines and game suspensions is coming their way either from the league or from the team or both. I can't imagine that any of them will suit up for Wednesday's match and in a purely speculative look to the future I can see one or two of them being let go in a bid to save salary - if the three did break team or MLS rules then this is a built in out for Mariner & Co. to dump some players they don't want without having to look for a contract loophole - again, this is purely speculative on my part but I would not be surprised were it to happen. Regardless of the outcome, sadly the TFC soap opera continues and the league continues to laugh at our team; most embarrassing team ever? Sigh, it's never easy is it TFC fans? So, everyone excited for Wednesday? Sigh.
Lock-up Links: Thoughts from my friends over at The Yorkies and Waking The Red and the latest comic efforts from East Side Stand Up.
State of Mind: Getting sick of the TFC Time Machine & Soap Opera
Location: The land of here we go again
*Apologies for the lack of blogging (for the 4 or 5 of you that have been wondering that is); life interferes so again, sorry! Although you may not want to read yet more doom and gloom; but if you're still feeling annoyed with the team's performance on Saturday and today's really fun news from Houston then read on...*
Saturday first:
Well that was shall we say less than fun to watch eh? It's been three weeks since we'd seen our boys play and I for one was hoping to put aside the drama of the Winter firing (yes, he was fired, deal with it) and the Mariner appointment (winner of TFC Survivor) and focus on the next new beginning for our boys in Red. Sadly it would appear that the team did not get the new beginning memo and thought they were supposed to emulate the beginning of this season.
Mariner immediately moved the team away from the 4-3-3 of the previous regime to his preferred (pay no attention to his no systems blather) 4-4-2 with Danny and RJ being paired up top. And the back 4 (which had been performing much better) saw a change with Jeremy Hall in the place of Ashtone Morgan who was being rested after travelling with the CMNT (since he didn't play a minute). OK, so some changes - change can be good right? All I was hoping for was to see the team build off of the positive performances they showed heading into the break and go out and compete. I didn't expect a win - especially not against SKC at home - but I did expect them to fight and show us that they can roll with the punches.
What we got was a horrific defensive performance the likes of which we haven't seen since well 6 or 8 weeks ago. It was an effort (and I hesitate to call it that) that showed zero ability to man mark, clear the ball cleanly and read the play. It was maddening to see the seemingly acres of space being conceded to SKC as they again and again easily got forward into dangerous areas. The TFC defense looking like they'd never playing a minute together, were clearly confused and showed none of the promise from 3 weeks ago. By the time the half was called it was 2-0 for the team in blue. In fact only some nice work from Kocic and a couple TFCesque near misses kept the score that close.
Complementing the defense in a truly comedic way was the ongoing inability of the forwards to score. Yes that two post ping-pong miss by Avila was heartbreaking in its "are you kidding me" aspect; and in fact Avi was one of the few bright spots on the night. However that does nothing to excuse the continuing inability of Danny K. to put the ball in the net. He missed at least two clear chances, not to mention being right there when Avi's ball came off the second post - to me he was operating at half speed (of half motivation) all night. His job is to score goals and he's not doing it; he appears to finally be back at full fitness so when can we expect to see him producing?
All in all it was an uninspiring, underwhelming, amateur performance from our boys. I don't care that Paul Mariner was super animated on the side line all night and that he "coached them for every minute" - the animation level of my team's coach does nothing to convince me that things are moving in the right direction. Especially a coach that thinks his team was sensational with the exception of the first 20 minutes of the game (really Paul? Sensational?). I did not enjoy watching them punt the ball and run around aimlessly for most of the 90 minutes. But they looked better during the second half you say? I said the same thing until I watched the game again; SKC completely let up in the second - they had done what needed to be done and did just enough to keep our boys off of the score sheet.
I will give some ground due to the fact that this was their first game back after the break and that they are adjusting to a new coach and yes, a new system. I'm certainly not ready to write them off - although am I ever? - and think there is an opportunity for the team such as they are to come together. But watching your team go 1-10 amid (and in part due to) continual drama behind the scenes is frustrating as a fan. Here's a musical thought before moving on to today's episode of "As The TFC Turns"...
Link It Up Baby: Here's the usual suspects for your usual thorough breakdown of the match: The Yorkies, Duncan from WTR at Sportsnet, Red Nation Online and Mistake By The Lake.
Monday Mayhem:
So today after everyone was coming to terms with Saturday night's underwhelming performance and were looking ahead to Wednesday night's match against the Dynamo, came the news that three of TFC's players had been arrested for public drunkenness and thrown in jail. Seriously; I can't make stuff like this up. The unlikely trio of Miguel Aceval, Nick Soolsma and Luis Silva (check out the mug shots - Aceval's "could care less" to Soolsma & Silva's "what the hell have we done") were out very late at Club Escobar in Houston and ended their night in the custody of the Houston PD. This is not the next step in the team's new beginning that we were looking for. I've heard talk of "boys will be boys" and "hey, who hasn't been drunk in public before" as comments and well I don't agree.
I have nothing against the guys going out to blow off some steam; hell if you played for TFC wouldn't you want to go out for a drink or two (or five or six)? I completely get that, I do. What I question is the decision making by both the players for tying one on and the team for allowing the players to head out for a night on the town that close to a match; shouldn't they be focusing on getting their heads wrapped around the new system and you know, winning? There are questions about whether or not the TFC3 had permission to be out that late (really boys? 3am?) or if they were breaking curfew or whatnot. What it comes down to is this is yet another depressingly embarrassing moment in the club's not so storied history. Another unnecessary distraction for a team that really needs everyone focused on what's happening on the field.
I have no idea what happens next for the trio; I have to assume that some combination of fines and game suspensions is coming their way either from the league or from the team or both. I can't imagine that any of them will suit up for Wednesday's match and in a purely speculative look to the future I can see one or two of them being let go in a bid to save salary - if the three did break team or MLS rules then this is a built in out for Mariner & Co. to dump some players they don't want without having to look for a contract loophole - again, this is purely speculative on my part but I would not be surprised were it to happen. Regardless of the outcome, sadly the TFC soap opera continues and the league continues to laugh at our team; most embarrassing team ever? Sigh, it's never easy is it TFC fans? So, everyone excited for Wednesday? Sigh.
Lock-up Links: Thoughts from my friends over at The Yorkies and Waking The Red and the latest comic efforts from East Side Stand Up.
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