Toronto FC / MLS

[M.O.B.E]

It just became the USL, formally the A-Leauge. I played for Glastonbury Celtic from 98-2001 in the old A league and yes it is part-time but the pay is still pretty good. The last year I played in that league I made just over 41 and had all my expenses covered.

There are 3 american teams ahead of Montreal and Vancouver. I think Van will get a team ahead of Montreal.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

whoa, 41 is pretty good!

[M.O.B.E]

Thats in US$, but not very good if you compare the 122 Dwayne DeRosario was making at Toronto Lynx.

[Booche]

The last year I played in that league I made just over 41 and had all my expenses covered.

HOLY SHIT!

Applause buddy. Applause.

::no longer assumes he can run circles around MOBE with a ball on his foot and a kink in his knee::

[Davey Boy 2.0]

Seasons tix for 2008 already sold out!

[Davey Boy 2.0]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=499902&roo t=mls&cc=5901

Toronto (Julius James, Pat Phelan, Brian Edwards, Mike Zaher, Joe Lapira)

Mo Johnston must have thought Christmas came early when the draft's two most polished defenders fell in Toronto's lap at picks 9 and 10. James should step in and start, as could Phelan. Edwards might be the goalkeeper of the future, and Johnston could wind up with the steal of the draft when he grabbed Lapira in the third round. If Lapira signs with MLS, Toronto will have run away with this draft.

Grade: A

[Davey Boy 2.0]

TORONTO — Former Portuguese international striker Joao Pinto is expected to join Toronto FC of Major League Soccer Tuesday to begin a trial.

Pinto, 36, scored 23 goals in 81 games for Portugal from 1991 to 2002 and has been playing this season in Portugal with SC Braga. He scored 90 goals in 302 games with Portuguese power Benfica from 1992 to 2000.

Also expected to join the Toronto team this week for a trial is Colombian central defender Julian Barragan. Another Colombian, midfielder Johnnier Montano, is scheduled to come in this week for a trial as well.

Toronto FC will complete training in Bradenton, Fla., this week. The team has two victories, two draws and one loss in the Florida portion of its exhibition schedule and has one more match scheduled for the IMG Academies, Wednesday against the Chicago Fire of MLS.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

2008 Fixture list released

Home in bold

1 Saturday, Mar 29 (MLS) Columbus Crew Away 4:00

2 Saturday, Apr 05 (MLS) D.C. United Away 7:30

3 Sunday, Apr 13 (TELEFUTURA)Los Angeles Galaxy Away 3:00

4 Saturday, Apr 19 (MLS) Real Salt Lake Home 12:30[

5 Saturday, Apr 26 (MLS) Kansas City Wizards Home 3:30

6 Thursday, May 01 (ESPN) New York Red Bulls Home 7:00

7 Saturday, May 17 (MLS) Columbus Crew Home 3:30

8 Wednesday, May 21 (MLS) D.C. United Home 7 :30

9 Saturday, May 24 (MLS) D.C. United Away 7:30

10 Saturday, May 31 (MLS) Los Angeles Galaxy Home 3:30

11 Saturday, Jun 07 (MLS) Houston Dynamo Away 8:30

12 Saturday, Jun 14 (MLS) Colorado Rapids Away 9:30

13 Saturday, Jun 21 (MLS) Kansas City Wizards Home 3:30

14 Saturday, Jun 28 (MLS) New England Revolution Away 7:30

15 Saturday, Jul 12 (FSC) Chicago Fire Away 8:30

16 Saturday, Jul 19 (HDNet)San Jose Home 3:30

17 Monday, Jul 28 (MLS) Real Salt Lake Away 9:00

18 Sunday, Aug 03 (MLS) FC Dallas Home 7:00

19 Saturday, Aug 09 (MLS) Colorado Rapids Home 3:30

20 Sunday, Aug 17 (MLS) New York Red Bulls Away 5:00

21 Saturday, Aug 23 (FSC) New England Revolution Home 7:30

22 Saturday, Aug 30 (MLS) Chivas USA Away 10:30

23 Saturday, Sep 06 (MLS) Chivas USA Home 4:00

24 Saturday, Sep 13 (MLS) Columbus Crew Home 3:30

25 Saturday, Sep 20 (HDNet)Kansas City Wizards Away 8:00

26 Saturday, Sep 27 (MLS) Houston Dynamo Home 3:30

27 Saturday, Oct 04 (MLS) New York Red Bulls Away 7:30

28 Saturday, Oct 11 (FSC) FC Dallas Away 8:30

29 Saturday, Oct 18 (HDNet)Chicago Fire Home 3:30

30 Saturday, Oct 25 (MLS) San Jose Away 10:00

[Mr. Photogeek]

So I tried for single game tickets today and no dice! Its great to see the support for the team but holy faak are tickets hard to come by. Maybe if they had lost to the Galaxy tickets would have been easier to come by Not likely though!

[Davey Boy 2.0]

boourns on tix

no more diving please son:

[Booche]

Those TFC home crowds are energetically great. They may live in Toronto but they aint Toronto folk if you know what I mean.

[Jaimoe]

I hope the CBC starts broadcasting TFC games in HD.

[ollie]

Nigel Reed has to go.

[Jaimoe]

Nigel Reed has to go.

Then the CBC will have to find another announcer with a British-sounding accent.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

TFC 2, WIZARDS 0 Third time the charm Toronto FC on longest win streak of franchise's short history

--------------------------------------------------

LARRY MILLSON TORONTO As the victories mount, there is a palpable building of confidence in Toronto FC, no longer Major League Soccer pushovers.

It began with a 3-2 away victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy two weeks ago, and continued with the 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake last week in TFC's home opener. Now, the team has won three in a row for the first time after defeating the Kansas City Wizards 2-0 on Saturday.

"When you have confidence you're going to have success," goalkeeper Greg Sutton said. "I think that's what we're starting to breed now, a sense of confidence. Once we have that we know we'll be successful.

The guys are starting to show that.

"Obviously playing at home is such a big advantage for us. We get motivated that extra degree when we're playing at home in front of our fans. We want to make this place a tough place to come into and win. I think we're starting to do that." TFC, 3-2, does not have much time to savour its recent success, which was secured by Amado Guevara's two-goal performance Saturday before 20,045 fans at BMO Field.

Preparations will begin today for Thursday night's home match against the New York Red Bulls, 1-1-1, who are in last place in MLS's Eastern standing.

"I think you've seen a lot of improvements over the last few games, if we keep playing like this, we'll be a tough team to beat," said Sutton, who made a big save on Ivan Trujillo after TFC defender Marco Velez gave the ball away in his own end to Claudio Lopez, Kansas City's designated player.

This is an important time for TFC as it has three matches left in a run of five in a row at home. The schedule will not be so friendly later and there will also be the expected departures for international fixtures later in the year, including the Olympic competition that will claim, at least, Maurice Edu and Marvell Wynne from TFC.

That is why acquiring depth in players is important. Defender Olivier Tebily was signed last Thursday but did not play in Saturday's game, although he did play part of the reserve game. TFC head coach John Carver said Tebily won't be playing in international competitions so he will be here during those times when others are gone.

But for the moment, things are going well for TFC and not even a transit strike in Toronto and a forecast of rain that never came could dampen the supporters' spirits on Saturday, some of whom made the trip from downtown pubs on a double-decker bus provided by the club, a rather nice touch. They also were in good voice for O Canada .

Guevara, who has just completed a year playing in his native Honduras after an MLS stint that included winning the league's most-valuable-player award in 2004 when he was with New York, scored his first two goals in his third match with TFC.

The first goal came in the 56th minute after Wynne carried the ball into the penalty area. Wynne lost control but a Wizards player's attempt to clear the ball hit a teammate and it bounced to Guevara, who was behind the defenders. The Wizards' claim of offside was denied.

Sutton made his big save 12 minutes later and, in the 77th minute, Rohan Ricketts of TFC was fouled by Carlos Marinelli outside the penalty area. Guevara and Laurent Robert lined up on opposite sides of the ball. Last week, Robert took the free kick in a similar situation and scored with his left foot. This time, the two decided Guevara had the better angle and he scored with his right foot.

"I actually thought Laurent was going to take it," Carver said.

"This is why I give players the responsibility. They decide, they're in the situation, they know who feels good and on this occasion Amado fancied it. It was a delight when I saw it hit the back of the net."

[Davey Boy 2.0]

From the Citizen (brace yourself for wild speculation):

If the city wants another reason for a major overhaul of Frank Clair Stadium besides a new CFL team, how about a Major League Soccer franchise owned by Eugene Melnyk?

The owner of the Ottawa Senators is exploring the possibility of acquiring an MLS club. But he is in a long queue that includes some U.S. cities on top of Montreal and Vancouver. Montreal already has a new stadium and one is in the works in Vancouver -- both having the primary purpose of luring the MLS, the highest level of professional soccer in North America.

Toronto FC, in its second season, is the only Canadian franchise in the league.

The CFL has awarded a group of Ottawa businessmen -- Roger Greenberg, Bill Shenkman, John Ruddy and Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt -- a conditional franchise that could begin play in 2010 if a revamped stadium is ready.

Meanwhile, Melnyk, who met with MLS president Mark Abbott last week in Toronto, is eyeing 2010 as the inaugural season for an MLS team here. That scenario may be too ambitious, though, as the 14-team league expects to grow to 18 by 2012, and has already awarded franchises to Seattle for 2009 and Philadelphia for 2010.

MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche would not say where Ottawa stands in its chances of landing a franchise or even if the city is on the league's radar.

However, Courtemanche said the league is constantly reviewing expansion plans in North America. MLS has the help of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns Toronto FC, the NHL's Maple Leafs and the NBA's Raptors, in identifying possible expansion cities, as well as sponsorship strategies in Canada. Expansion will be on the agenda next month when league and various team executives will be in Toronto for the MLS All-Star Game.

"Right now, we're fortunate there's more interest in expansion in Major League Soccer than in any other point of our 13-season history," said Courtemanche, noting that Canadian NBA star Steve Nash has expressed interest in being an owner, too.

Not being able to secure a team for 2010 would probably be a good thing for Melnyk, who couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.

With a design competition for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park still months away, it certainly doesn't look as if the stadium would be ready by 2010, anyway. (There's also the possibility that the city may decide it doesn't want a stadium in a new Lansdowne Park, even though that is highly unlikely as it is seen as the centerpiece to the redevelopment.)

Melnyk's interest in bringing MLS to Ottawa may have more to do with a revamped or new Frank Clair Stadium -- some say it should be razed and rebuilt because it's a dump -- in order to expand his entertainment empire beyond Scotiabank Place.

In 2005, there were strong rumours that Melnyk was prepared to step in to save the Renegades, Ottawa's most recent CFL team, if the city was willing to turn over management of some key components of the park, such as the stadium and the Civic Centre, to his company, Capital Tickets.

Capital would have had control over event bookings and revenue from ticket sales, concessions and parking, and presumably used some of that money to offset any losses by the football club. The city balked and the following spring the Renegades were dead.

For now, it appears the city will not allow private enterprise to take over control of a redeveloped Lansdowne Park as was initially suggested by Hunt's group. However, Melnyk, if he is granted a MLS franchise, would likely want that arrangement for at least the stadium and Civic Centre, as he did three years ago. Under that system, the new CFL team's lease would presumably be with Capital, which would also control ticket sales for the team.

Is Melnyk's desire to bring the MLS to sports-fickle Ottawa pie-in-the-sky? Soccer enthusiasts point to Toronto FC and how quickly fans embraced the club and the constant sellout games. They also note that last year's under-20 FIFA world tournament, held in six Canadian cities, including Ottawa, was a huge success. Ottawa came close to a sellout for its five FIFA games held at the 26,500-seat Frank Clair Stadium.

Still, the FIFA tournament was a rare event, so there was probably a higher level of interest. And, in measuring the success of Toronto FC, one would have to take into account the huge population base the club draws from in southern Ontario's Golden Horseshoe, and how ethnically diverse the city is, which is a key to selling soccer in North America.

John Pugh, president and chief executive of the Ottawa Fury, thinks an MLS team has a far greater chance of surviving in Ottawa -- given the growing interest in the game and the success of last year's FIFA tournament -- than actually landing here any time soon.

"Would I love to see it? Yes," said Pugh. "Would I love to see a higher level of soccer than we now have in the city? Absolutely yes. But in the short term, the competition for franchises would make it difficult (for Ottawa to acquire one.)

MLS teams currently play a 30-game regular season -- 15 at home and 15 on the road. CFL teams play 18 -- nine at home and nine away. Though the Renegades had problems drawing big crowds despite only nine home games over four months, CFL supporters contend that a big selling point for Ottawa's next team would be a "world-class stadium."

The city plans to demolish the lower section of the stadium's southside stands in July. The section was condemned last fall. The city is also conducting engineering tests on the northside stands in order to outline what work is necessary for firms entering the Lansdowne Park design competition. Richard Haycock, Lansdowne's general manager, said the tests have so far not found any serious problems.

However, there is a growing feeling among some sports promoters that the city should simply do the job properly by tearing down what's there now, including the Civic Centre, and rebuilding from scratch.

One estimate puts renovation costs at $60 million -- as long as the city finds no other problems with the structure.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

All Star game tonight in TO against the Irons. Keep an eye out for hooligans if you watch it. Security's going to be tight, I would imagine...

[Schwa.]

You soccer, your brought'er.

[ollie]

CBC breaks out the HD budget. Nice.

[ollie]

I get the impression that Nigel Reed would rather talk about anything but the game. He's awful.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

He's facking awful!!!

wet towel and you know he only started getting interested in fitba when the CBC started waving $s in front of his face

Asking De Vos what it was like to play against Beckham?!?!?!?!

HIGHLARIOUS!

De Vos just replied saying, "Um yes he's a good player"

Wel done CBC, hire someone who knows fack all about the game

[Blane]

Impact enhances its chances in MLS's expansion

PAT HICKEY, The Gazette

Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer, is here this week for the MLS All-Star Game and he'll offer an insight into the league's expansion plans after a board of governors meeting today.

The good news for Montreal soccer fans: The city remains high on the list of expansion candidates and the Impact enhanced its chances Tuesday night when they played Toronto FC - the lone Canadian franchise in MLS - to win the inaugural Canadian Champions League.

When a Toronto reporter asked Impact head coach John Limniatis if the win could serve as a platform for Montreal's entry into MLS, Limniatis correctly answered that the platform is already in place and the club is looking toward a 2011 debut in what is marginally the best pro soccer league in North America.

The two major stumbling blocks for the Impact have been MLS's go-slow approach toward expansion and the rising cost of entry into the league.

MLS has 14 teams and will add Seattle next year and Philadelphia in 2010. The original plan was to cap the league at 18 teams, but Garber is expected to announce today the league will grow to 24 franchises by 2015.

Toronto FC paid $10 million to join the club; the franchise fee for the Impact could be north of $40 million.

An additional $15 million would be needed to bring the capacity of Saputo Stadium to 20,000 and the payroll would be in the $2-million range, twice what it is now.

Before making the investment, team president Joey Saputo has to get some help from Canadiens owner George Gillett or another well-heeled investor and he'll also have to do some market research to determine whether fans will pay higher prices.

But the Impact might not have a choice, because MLS expansion will take its toll on the United Soccer Leagues First Division. Seattle moves to MLS next season and the list of expansion candidates includes five of the other 10 USL cities - Montreal, Vancouver, Portland, Atlanta and Miami.

Toronto fans show signs of life: After decades of watching NHL games in Toronto, I was pleasantly surprised to discover there are some Toronto fans who show signs of a pulse.

The Toronto FC fans were lively and noisy for Tuesday's game and TFC head coach John Carver was right when he said they did their part in providing the right atmosphere for his rather listless side. They filled the stadium and cheered their team to the very end. And even the Impact players and coaches had to smile when they were treated to a cheer that went: "Calisse, tabernac, what the (expletive deleted) is an Impact?"

My only quarrel with the crowd was a group of fans who littered the field with streamers whenever a corner kick was awarded to the Impact. The public address announcer warned that anyone who threw objects on the field would be ejected, but the rule apparently doesn't apply to streamers. The irony is that one of the streamers found its way to midfield and a Toronto FC player slipped on it and had to fight to keep his balance.

But the streamers didn't seem to prevent Joey Gjertsen from setting up Roberto Brown for the tying goal.

Limniatis said he's seen worse.

"Streamers are nothing," Limniatis said. "I've seen fans throw bottles of urine and coins. When I was playing in Greece, the groundskeeper would collect all the coins on the field the day after the game and then make a trip to the bank."

phickey@thegazette.canwest.com

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008

Edited July 25, 2008 by Guest

[Davey Boy 2.0]

noooooooo.... not $250!

NEW YORK -- Toronto FC midfielder Amado Guevara was suspended one game and fined $250 by Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee on Thursday for his conduct in Sunday's game.

Guevara earned a red card in Toronto's 2-0 loss to FC Dallas after hitting Dallas midfielder Pablo Ricchetti in the face in the penalty area in the 78th minute. The fine and one-game suspension are in addition to an automatic one-game suspension and $250 fine Guevara received as a result of the red card.

He has three goals in 13 games this season for Toronto.

The 32-year-old won't be in the Toronto lineup until Aug. 23. He will miss games against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday and the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 17.

[Davey Boy 2.0]

holy fack do TFC have problems. they cannot hold onto the ball for the life of them when it's needed despite being up a man today (for the crucial last 20 mins or so). fair rnough that they've got injuries, players away on intl duty etc but i was gobsmacked watching them today. Miraculous that they got the win, great stike from Barrett...

brutal brutal officiating [again], I was staring in amazement at the telly

[Davey Boy 2.0]

Maurice Edu to Glasgow Rangers

Here's the strange thing:

The Ibrox club have agreed a £2.6 million deal with Major League Soccer for the defensive midfielder, who has six caps.

Edu was recommended to the club by their former striker Maurice Johnston, who had coached the player at Toronto.

So the MLS gets the $$?? Not Toronto? And Johnston poushed him out the door? Why would he do that?

crazy league