State of Mind: Somewhat optimistic
Location: Not BMO - sitting this one out
So here we go - first game back at BMO for TFC in a month and there's a ready made sports cliche of a storyline to go with it as Paul Mariner's old team the New England Revolution come to town to take on our boys.
TFC are playing with a bit of momentum having put in a terrific first half in Houston on Wednesday night that saw the return of Danny K's scoring touch and some great work in the midfield by JDG and continuing strong play by Eric Avila. And you can't discount the extra energy that playing at home in front of what is still a decent crowd (we're not to Crew-like levels of attendance just yet) for the first time in weeks. Even though this is their third game in eight days the team should be pumped up and prepped to take 3 points away from the visitors.
The Rev are not the best team in the MLS, but they come to town well rested and not having had to play more than a game a week this past month. And as BMO hasn't realistically been called "Fortress" in some time they have to be hoping to scoop three points off our Reds, especially after a disappointing scoreless draw at home against the Crew last weekend. However they are coming to one of the few places they have never managed a win (0-2-3) and will be without the services of Revs captain Shalrie Joseph who is out with an injury. The loss of Joseph will definitely make things easier for our forwards and attacking mids to move up the field and (hopefully) allow Danny K. & Co. to build off of Wednesday's 3 goal performance.However, JDG will not have a walk in the park as Joseph's usual partner Benny Feilhaber (quick, able to carve up space at will) will give him plenty to deal with; especially if he can partner well with the generally troublesome Lee Nguyen.
If TFC hope to turn the corner on this season and put all of the drama of the past few weeks behind them then this match is tailor made for this. What better story can you write than a team triumphing in their home stadium on a gorgeous summer day against their coach's former team? The only thing that would make it better for the scriptwriters is if there were a former Red in the lineup to up the emotional ante; but as the Rev are one of the few teams that don't boast a contingent of ex-TFC players (who have suddenly found their form) we'll have to strike that from the previews.
This game is going to hinge on the same things it always does - defensive play, ability of the midfield to break up the opposition attack and you know that scoring thing. But our boys do have history on their side when it comes to the Rev, a fanbase aching for some positives to celebrate and hey, no rain! I hope that the defense has been forced to watch the mistakes from the past two matches over and over again - they have to learn sometime, don't they? Hopefully the shiny distraction of Armed Forces Day does not take away from the performance on the pitch and that everyone that's attending is treated to a full 90 minute, hard fought, intelligent effort from our boys in red. Let's do this TFC; it's time.
COME ON YOU REDS!!
Link It Up Baby: And your regular pre-match breakdowns from the usual suspects - The Yorkies, Waking The Red (Duncan, James & James again), Red Nation Online.
TFC are playing with a bit of momentum having put in a terrific first half in Houston on Wednesday night that saw the return of Danny K's scoring touch and some great work in the midfield by JDG and continuing strong play by Eric Avila. And you can't discount the extra energy that playing at home in front of what is still a decent crowd (we're not to Crew-like levels of attendance just yet) for the first time in weeks. Even though this is their third game in eight days the team should be pumped up and prepped to take 3 points away from the visitors.
The Rev are not the best team in the MLS, but they come to town well rested and not having had to play more than a game a week this past month. And as BMO hasn't realistically been called "Fortress" in some time they have to be hoping to scoop three points off our Reds, especially after a disappointing scoreless draw at home against the Crew last weekend. However they are coming to one of the few places they have never managed a win (0-2-3) and will be without the services of Revs captain Shalrie Joseph who is out with an injury. The loss of Joseph will definitely make things easier for our forwards and attacking mids to move up the field and (hopefully) allow Danny K. & Co. to build off of Wednesday's 3 goal performance.However, JDG will not have a walk in the park as Joseph's usual partner Benny Feilhaber (quick, able to carve up space at will) will give him plenty to deal with; especially if he can partner well with the generally troublesome Lee Nguyen.
If TFC hope to turn the corner on this season and put all of the drama of the past few weeks behind them then this match is tailor made for this. What better story can you write than a team triumphing in their home stadium on a gorgeous summer day against their coach's former team? The only thing that would make it better for the scriptwriters is if there were a former Red in the lineup to up the emotional ante; but as the Rev are one of the few teams that don't boast a contingent of ex-TFC players (who have suddenly found their form) we'll have to strike that from the previews.
This game is going to hinge on the same things it always does - defensive play, ability of the midfield to break up the opposition attack and you know that scoring thing. But our boys do have history on their side when it comes to the Rev, a fanbase aching for some positives to celebrate and hey, no rain! I hope that the defense has been forced to watch the mistakes from the past two matches over and over again - they have to learn sometime, don't they? Hopefully the shiny distraction of Armed Forces Day does not take away from the performance on the pitch and that everyone that's attending is treated to a full 90 minute, hard fought, intelligent effort from our boys in red. Let's do this TFC; it's time.
COME ON YOU REDS!!
Link It Up Baby: And your regular pre-match breakdowns from the usual suspects - The Yorkies, Waking The Red (Duncan, James & James again), Red Nation Online.
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