Toronto FC Discussion Thread

[jim todd]

the dismantling continues. Serioux has been moved. though it seemed like he never played to his potential, i believe he was one of TFC's better defenders last season. at the very least, they'll miss his throw-ins.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2 ... rioux.html

[sideshow]

His throw ins were awesome. It was too bad the advertisments were so close to the field. He could be even better with another foot of space.

I really liked Serioux.

[LittleOzzy]

And the troubles continue...

Toronto FC general manager Mo Johnston told CBCSports.ca Monday evening that the club has sent Canadian forward Ali Gerba home from pre-season training in South Carolina.

“He’s worked hard but his play was not up to scratch,” Johnston said.

Johnston said Gerba has not be released by the team, but that the coaching staff felt it was necessary to send him back to Toronto because wasn’t “up to scratch” in TFC’s pre-season thus far.

The club is currently in South Carolina where it is competing in the Carolina Cup Challenge, a four-team exhibition tournament featuring the Charleston Battery, Real Salt Lake and D.C. United.

Johnston stressed that Gerba has not been let go by the club.

“He’s on a guaranteed contract.... He’s still with us,” the Toronto GM said.

Gerba, 27, signed with Toronto last June after being released by English club Milton Keynes Dons.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2 ... gerba.html

[Kaizen]

I am starting to agree with people that say this may be a long year. Hopefully we win the Canadian Championship at least.

[LittleOzzy]

Prices are out for this season.

http://mlsefans.com/index.cfm?n35167s39 ... 3960o37250

The new seats seem expensive.

I also have always wondered why the one supporters section in 127 is so far away from the other supports, it makes no sense to me.

Would it not make more sense to move them to 219 or 120?

[LittleOzzy]

WOOHOO!

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Major League Soccer and its players are near agreement on a five-year contract that would avoid a strike scheduled for next week.

The deal was likely to be announced Saturday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not been made.

The MLS Players Union had said it would strike if an agreement wasn't reached before the league opener on March 25.

Negotiators began intensive talks Thursday in Washington, D.C.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2 ... abour.html

[Kaizen]

Awesome. I still don't like that they dont have free agency.

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto FC

Predicted finish: 8th East

THE KICKABOUT: While it’s difficult to read too much into pre-season, the Reds have been so awful that their performances can’t simply be shrugged off. They can’t score, have no discipline and can’t defend. New coach Preki was brought in to give the sense of discipline, and he sticks with a 4-4-2 system. He was successful at Chivas because he had enough talent to get the few goals he needed to win. He doesn’t have that kind of talent in Toronto.

THE VERDICT: This team has cut loose a series of popular veterans, from Carl Robinson to Toronto’s own Adrian Serioux. It has brought in some bench depth players and a whole bunch of trialists. It starts the season looking like a raw expansion side, with too many holes to plug.

Bottom line: The worst defence in the league has not been improved and the strikers are a massive worry. Yes, Dwayne De Rosario will contribute some goals. But, other than that, Preki can do only so much. You could put Arsene Wenger in charge of this crew and they still wouldn’t score or keep the ball out of their own net. Season 4 could be the most painful one yet for the city’s passionate soccer supporters.

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/soccer ... 34746.html

[LittleOzzy]

Looks like Wynne has been traded for Nick Labrocca with more moves to come.

[Kaizen]

I am not sure how I feel about that trade. I do not know anything about Labrocca.

[Kaizen]

MLS Season opener tonight.

Philadelphia versus Seattle.

[sideshow]

Bye bye Wynne. Keep your hands at your sides in Colorado. Except when you play TFC. Then feel free to flail them about as you normally do, especially in your own box.

[LittleOzzy]

What do you think of the new MLS site? I think it looks really plain...

Plus the domain name is stupid... Major League Soccer Soccer.com

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto FC did some last-minute tweaking to its roster ahead of its first game of the Major League Soccer season, releasing backup goalkeeper Brian Edwards on Friday.

Edwards confirmed to CBCSports.ca that general manager Mo Johnston gave him the news.

"Mo told me this morning that I wasn't in [coach] Preki's plans," Edward said. "I guess we didn't see eye-to-eye. He didn't give me a lot of games in the pre-season, so it's not that surprising.

"The move is fine with me. I was hoping for a good, fresh start somewhere else anyway, but I don't necessarily agree with them waiting until the day before the season starts to do it, which they chose to do. But it's time for me to move on."

The move comes a day before TFC's season opener Saturday against the hometown Columbus Crew.

Another player leaving who is pissed off. TFC management has sure pissed off a lot of players this off-season.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2 ... wards.html

Too many unhappy players leaving will mean people will think twice about signing here...

[Brinbe]

Good to see another MLSE team managed so brilliantly, good job Mo.

[Clutch Carter]

Season opener on GolTV. Well that blows!

[LittleOzzy]

pretty shaky start...

[LittleOzzy]

Garcia and his mistakes lost us this game.

I also think Frei played outside of the box too often.

[Stealth68]

there gonna lose just like every other toronto team.

[John F Kennedy]

there gonna lose just like every other toronto team.

So are there any Allstars that actually like playing for Toronto>