THE MATCHUP: Le spoil

How's that whole "Shining Light" bit going?

 

TORONTO VS. MONTREAL
　

BMO FIELD - SATURDAY 4PM ET
TV: TSN

DISCLAIMER: In no single way do we like Montreal Impact or have any wishes for their future good fortune. We also do not "cheer for the Canadian team" when TFC is out of the playoffs - this is club football – get a grip nancy.

THE KICKABOUT:
Schadenfruede. No, not the last name of Montreal's manager but the pleasure derived from the misfortune of others. It is a delicious prospect for Toronto FC supporters, so bereft of anything to cheer for with our own club, that perhaps The Reds may instill some last minute damage upon our rivals and in turn we feel slightly better about our own lot in life. With a victory on Saturday (and some other MLS chips falling on Sunday) TFC could effectively dash Montreal's hopes for a post-season appearance. Tres jolie!

If things do go all flat Pepsi-Cola for Montreal, let's all have a good ribbing at our neighbour's expense. If we can't have nice things why should they? However, we should never mock their attempt at winning. They may fail, but they tried. Perhaps the heavy investment on older stars whose best days are past may not work out in the end. But you know what? They gave it a solid kick at the can.

In 7 years, can we honestly look in the TFC mirror and say that our club ever went "all in"? Nope. The closest we ever got to winning ambition was "hoping to qualify for the playoffs". So yes, we hope TFC wins and Impact end up wallowing with us in the pseudo-relegation zone because they are our bitter rivals. But at least they wanted it. There is no shame in failing; there is great shame in never trying.



So long old friend.

MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME:
"The 401 Derby"
　

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TORONTO: Joe Bendik, Bright Dike, Alvaro Rey
MONTREAL: Davy Arnaud, Marco Di Vaio, Alessandro Nesta
　

THE ODDS:
- TFC fans leaving with a sense of optimism: 500-1
- TFC fans leaving with a sense of resignation: 50-1
- TFC fans leaving with a sense of deja vu: EVENS

 

 Cheers for the hard work Ecks.

 

WHO ARE YA?

The final match of the year is a time to reflect back on a rewarding season and also gives the club a chance to give thanks back to fans. In the past, TFC fans have received toques and er... toques. This year however, word is that TFC may be giving out 2013 Memory Boxes featuring mementos from a great season including:

 

- A Julio Cesar match-worn nothing

- Photocopies of John Bostock's British Airways return ticket

- A piece of actual Terry Dunfield sock tassel

- Inukshuks!

- Commemorative Allocation Coins

- Some old red thread that was originally meant to bind us all

- A "Get Used To It" bumper sticker

- No refunds

POST-MATCH HEADLINE: "C'EST LA VIE"

 

Aren't you late for dinner or something?