Toronto FC Discussion Thread

[LittleOzzy]

Less than two weeks since ticket sales started, the Montreal Impact announced Monday that more than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, that will take place on February 25 at Olympic Stadium. “We are very happy to see that ticket sales continue at a steady pace and that on February 25, fans will show up in large numbers in blue to support the Impact,” said Montreal Impact Executive Vice President Richard Legendre. “With 30 days to go to the event, we are extremely confident of surpassing our 30,000 ticket sales objective.”

http://www.montrealimpact.com/News/News ... 53&Focus=0

It's nice to see that a big number of people in Montreal and getting out and supporting their team. Soccer is finally growing in this country.

[LittleOzzy]

Lack of stadium hurting Ottawa's MLS bid

With four other cities in the running to land a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, the biggest threat to Ottawa's bid may come from its own backyard.

MLS commissioner Don Garber and president Mark Abbott were in the nation's capital Tuesday and gave a glowing review to the city's bid for one of two spots available for the league's 2011 expansion plans.

However, it's the lack of approval for a soccer-specific stadium to be built in Ottawa that appears to stand in the way.

"That's really the biggest hurdle that needs to be overcome for us to be able to approve an expansion team here," Garber said during a news conference at Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators.

It's the NHL club's owner, Eugene Melnyk, who is in talks with government officials to secure both the land and partial funding required to build a proposed $110-million stadium near the NHL team's Scotiabank Place home in the city's west end.

At the same time, a group led by Jeff Hunt, owner of the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's, has been granted a conditional Canadian Football League franchise and is also looking for the city's approval to redevelop Lansdowne Park in its downtown area.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2 ... a-bid.html

I still feel Ottawa and Vancouver have no chance this time around. Miami and Portland will be getting teams this round.

Montreal had the best shot, but dropped out because of the 40 million franchise fee.

[LittleOzzy]

I can't believe training camp started today!

Ricketts agrees to new deal
Midfielder joins Robinson and Dichio with new deals

Toronto FC announced Monday that midfielder Rohan Ricketts has agreed to a new deal that will keep him with the club through the 2009 season. Earlier in 2009, the club extended the contracts of both midfielder Carl Robinson, and forward Danny Dichio. As per team and league policy details of the deal were not announced.

Ricketts, 26, joined Toronto FC on April 4, 2008. The midfielder scored four goals, and added four assists in 27 games played. He finished the 2008 MLS season third in the team on minutes played.

http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_ ... &team=t280

[sideshow]

I am with you Ozzy.

April 4th well get here shortly.

Have you been to a game yet? I have gone to a couple. It is always a good time there. Especially if you get to sit in the Supporters section.

[LittleOzzy]

I have yet to get to a game, this summer I will be trying my best though.

We should have a much improved team if the rookies work out well.

[NeverGoingToWin]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2009/02/09/tfc_vitti/

Toronto FC signed Argentine forward Pablo Vitti to a loan deal Monday.

Vitti, 23, comes from FC Chernomorets Odessa of the Ukrainian Premier League, where he was on loan from Independiente of Argentina.

He appeared in Toronto on July 15 when Independiente faced Toronto FC in an exhibition game at BMO Field. Vitti scored the game's lone goal in the 68th minute.

"We've kept tabs on him since he played here in the summer," Mo Johnston, Toronto's manager, director of soccer, said in a statement. "We actually made him an offer after that game, but it was refused at that time.

"MLS can be a difficult league for players to adjust to straight away so we are pleased that we could secure this loan deal now to allow Pablo time to adjust and settle in through a proper pre-season."

Vitti's best season was in 2004-'05 when he played for his hometown club Rosario Central and scored eight goals in 29 games.

Vitti was a member of the Argentina under-20 squad that beat Nigeria for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship title.

[Brownman06]

I am so pumped for this upcoming season. TFC have a solid roster right now! They just need to get couple of good centre backs if we want to win the league (Yeah, I said it!).

[HumbleBumbleBee]

Alllllll we're saying is giveeeeeee usss a CB

/John Lennon

Edit: Watch it end up just being Marco Velez.

[NeverGoingToWin]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/blogs/2009/02/17/dobson_boys_are_back/

[LittleOzzy]

MLS needs Montreal

I know Montreal dropped out because of the ridiculous franchise fee, but they clearly have the fan support and a good team. MLS needs to drop it's fee some to make sure Montreal gets added in the near future.

[Joga_Bonito]

I was at the Olympic Stadium, there was 55 000 for this game. Your right about the MLS needing MTL. There is a soccer buzz in the city and whenever there's a big soccer event, people show up. They can easily sellout with 20 000 people at Saputo Stadium someday.

[LittleOzzy]

Let's hope Montreal can put together a good game again tonight.

[Joga_Bonito]

Montreal's a dumb dumb team, how can you lose a game like that? That's also what happens when you play not to lose (defending to win).

[LittleOzzy]

What a horrible outcome.

This may of been Montreal's last chance for awhile. With TFC getting better and Vancouver likely joining MLS the competition is going to be a lot tougher.

It will also be interesting to see if Hamilton gets a USL team if they get added to the Canadian Championship for next year. A four team round robin would be nice.

[HumbleBumbleBee]

The Charleston tournament starts today

[LittleOzzy]

Barring a last-minute snag, the owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club will be awarded a Major League Soccer expansion franchise by the end of this month.

Two sources requesting anonymity said this week that Greg Kerfoot, the reclusive Vancouver businessman and owner of the Whitecaps, was negotiating the final details of an agreement with MLS commissioner Don Garber.

The new MLS team would replace the existing Whitecaps club, which competes in the less prestigious United Soccer League's First Division. The new team would take the name Whitecaps and begin play in 2011.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... y/National

This will be amazing for soccer in Canada. Now all we can hope for is that Montreal will be ready for the next round of expansion.

It will be great knowing TFC and Vancouver will play 4 times a year.

[LittleOzzy]

Where have all the soccer fans gone? I'm shocked this wasn't posted yet.

Major League Soccer is coming to Vancouver, reports TEAM 1040.

According to the radio station, sources have informed them that MLS officials will be in the city next week to officially award the expansion franchise.

The team will begin play in 2011.

In addition, there is one more expansion team to be awarded and three cities are still in the hunt: Portland, St. Louis and Ottawa.

Other sources told TEAM 1040 that Portland has the inside track, but must have stronger financial backing in place before MLS will award them a franchise. The announcement on the second expansion team is not expected until later in March.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=2710 ... lines_main

Now with Vancouver in I wonder how long until Montreal decides they are ready.

Portland, Seattle and Vancouver will make for some crazy matches on the west coast.

[ForeverTFC]

My buddy tried to get us 5 tickets for the TFC home opener on monday right at 10 in the morning. On ticket master, they wouldnt allow more than 2 tickets per household. So he called ticket master and they said there is nothing they could do. I dont understand, are you only allowed to go with one person?

Ruins me and my room mates birthday weekend. We were going to go to the TFC game saturday, go out downtown toronto saturday night and go to the Raptors Knicks game on sunday. Now its all ruined because we cant get 5 tickets for TFC.

[LittleOzzy]

and I don't even have GolTV to see the first two games of the season for TFC...

[youngLion]

and I don't even have GolTV to see the first two games of the season for TFC...

I'm not a soccer fan but I just heard that The Fan is going to be broadcasting TFC games this season.