Put money in hereCRUZ AZUL 0 - TORONTO FC 0
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Amidst the din of droning train horns, apparently the Estadio Azul version of the vuvuzela, Nick Dasovic and his TFC charges gave a gutsy, resilient show of defensive grit in one of CONCACAF's toughest stadiums. The Reds managed to overcome the handicap of early match injuries and the smoggy altitude of Mexico City to stifle and frustrate the highly favoured Cruz Azul and snatch a precious point in the CCL Group Stage. Solid performances from the likes of Adrian Cann, Julian de Guzman and backup keeper Jon "King" Conway showed that you can still play a defensive style without putting North America to sleep - I'm looking at you Radosavljevic. However, on a night which should have made Reds fans sleep well - things back home put a black cloud over the match.
Despite our ardent support for the hometown team, it was so hard not to watch the match tonight without a heavy heart. As most supporters are aware by now Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced today yet another increase in season ticket prices for 2011. Barely a week after hitting the club's reset button, by sacking (justifiably) Preki & Mo, the ownership somehow felt it was appropriate to increase your ticket price across the stadium. Somehow, somewhere on Bay Street, some old white man in an expensive suit thought Toronto FC Inc. has provided a quality product in 2010 to warrant gouging their support deeper.
If any supporters of the club are still holding out hope that ML$E "gets football" and "has a vision for TFC" - stop that rubbish thinking immediately. The greedy Bay St. Bankers only see profits and truly feel they have "Leafs on Grass" at BMO Field. Seats in the South End have risen in price by 77% since year one and some BMO Field season tickets cost more than a year's worth of matches at Manchester United. ML$E's claims that this is an "apples and oranges" comparison shows their ignorance of Toronto's knowledgeable football fans who are becoming disillusioned with the overall poor product that is The Reds in a hurry.
Sadly, ML$E has Reds' supporters over the proverbial barrel. The fine balance between loving your club and being taken for a chump by a corporation with zero desire for winning on the field is a painful choice. You can never fault TFC's fans for giving it their all at BMO Field and on the road with The Reds but eventually backs will break and fans will stay home. Another lacklustre year - and we all see 2011 under Head Coach Dasovic and GM Jim Brennan going that way (you read it here!) - and yet another ticket increase, may just fatally injure this young club. The sad thing is, the Toronto-hoser media will say... "professional soccer just can't work in Toronto". Remember, we were there when it did - before greed showed up.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Adrian Cann (TFC)... solid in back
GOAT OF THE MATCH: Tom Anselmi (ML$E)... solid in bank
MATCH IN FIVE WORDS: Scrappy. Train Horns. Injuries. Greed.
SENSATIONAL HEADLINE: "CCL MATCH NOT USED IN MLSE SEASON TICKET HIGHLIGHT REEL"
TOTALLY FAKE POST-MATCH QUOTE: "We love the FC fans - greatest in the MLS! Now send us your money or get the hell out of here." - ML$E VP Tom Anselmi shows Reds supporters affection
Posts
A massive, giant yes to every word stated above. Good work. MLSE will kill this club mark my words.
ReplyDelete- Toby
Anonymous @4:03pm
ReplyDeleteNot "whining" as you say, would ensure that future ticket prices increase even faster, regardless of piss-poor results on the field. Is that what you would prefer?