So Long Spoon, Hello Spork

Today came the shocking - OK, not really - news that centre back Geovanny "Spoon" Caicedo had been released by TFC. When I first heard that the 45 minute man was no longer with the club my immediate thought was "oh no, why does this feel like TFC the early years" all over again. My second was that we were all being robbed of various "Spoon" related puns - no Spoon dishes off to the Silva Plata...ah well, what could have been; no use crying over wasted puns...*sob*...sorry, got a little emotional there.


One angle that I realize pretty much every other blogger and footy journo here in Toronto has covered is that why did Caicedo agree to come to the MLS? You would think that he'd perhaps research the league he was headed to...and on paper the imposing 6' 2" defender seemed to be a good fit.  Stranger things have happened however and better to have it dealt with early I say - and the freed up international spot and salary doesn't hurt either (hello summer transfer window?). 


However, upon hearing the news, my chief concern as a long-time fan was that the dreaded (and seemingly patented) TFC revolving door had returned. These quick in and out signings (shoud they stay or should they go now?) have long plagued the team and caused myself and my fellow fans to fly into fits of rage and despair. And I do not want to spend the next seven months watching Frei and Kocic glaring at the defense or watch TFC keep claim on that worst ever goals against record. However, the press release from Toronto FC made it clear that the parting of ways was mutual and had more to do with Caicedo's difficulties in adjusting to the style of play in the MLS as well as missing his family back in Ecuador; rather than that poor 45 minute performance we saw via a shaky online stream.  


So what does this mean for TFC's oft beleagured backline? Well, it looks like until (at the very least) Adrian Cann regains full fitness, that newcomer Miguel Aceval will continue to be joined by Ty Harden or "The Spork" as he's now to be known thanks to those master punsters/nickname givers over at Waking The Red and The Yorkies. And I'm completely on board with my blogging brethren (ooh, alliteration!) - Ty is a serviceable tool (did I just call Ty Harden a tool? Yes, yes I did) - he's not your first choice but he'll do the job more or less until better more complete ones come along.  With Ecks and Morgan on the wings expect to see Frings spending a LOT of time as the fifth defender (or CB in charge) - not a terrible thing, but I would much rather see our captain in the midfield coolly and calmly distributing the ball and well, running the show - JDG, this is your moment to step up; take it!


The main point of this? All hail The Spork!

Pre-Game Jitters

Current State: Barely contained excitement, much fidgeting and clock watching - is it time yet? Well, is it??

In a few short hours I and upwards of 40,000 of my fellow fans (because you are all fans, right?) will be making our way to the Skydome to cheer on our beloved TFC. What do you need to know for today? Here is a handy pre-game checklist:

Outfit: Consisting mostly of TFC gear or red & white clothing?

Ticket: You have one.

Mood: Fidgety, jittery excitement bordering on the extreme

Songs: Here is a handy cheat sheet courtesy of the guys and gals over at U-Sector

Passion: Off the charts in readiness to cheer on your team

This is the big one - the one we've been waiting four long months for. So if you're like me; right now you are twitchy, giddy, giggly and liking irritating the hell out of any non-footy fans around you. Fun isn't it?

As this game is at the Dome I will not be in my usual West Stand seats; instead I am sitting (well, standing) with the Supporter Groups in the South End. But wait you say - didn't I say you don't need to sit with the SGs to be a supporter? Absolutely true - doesn't mean that I don't enjoy being part of the incredible energy and passion that they bring to every match - it's where I sit for Canada matches - and as this match is larger than life in scope and importance; being with the SGs is what I wanted for this game. The SGs have gone all out and were up late last night decorating the Dome - I don't want to spoil it for you; you'll see it tonight.  I expect the entire stadium to be a loud, vocal, crazed sea of red anchored by the south end. I also expect to be partially deaf and to have no voice at this time tomorrow - happily so!

If you haven't already been voraciously reading all sorts of pre-game posts here are some links to get you caught up - actually, because all of the fine blogger folk I follow have been working around the clock to bring us a ton of coverage you'll be in good shape if you visit the guys over at Waking The Red, The Yorkies, and  Red Nation. There are many more and several others I could link to but like I said; this will put you in pretty good shape.

If you're not going tonight, you best be watching - get decked out in your best TFC gear, turn the TV up LOUD, chant and cheer along with the rest of us and be part of the biggest, game, ever!

COME ON YOU REDS!!!