THE SOUTH STAND REPORT - Toronto v Colorado... or The One They Should've Won

It's a beautiful day today.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the weather situation, it's been extended cold with no relief, but this weekend, it's practically shorts weather.

On one hand, Colorado is about as much of a grey mouse club as they come in MLS, with minimal star power or excitement.  They're littered with a few ex-TFC players (Wynne, Buddle, Labrocca to name a few) and they've eeked out most of their wins this year.

On the other hand, Toronto's injury list could probably qualify for the play-offs right now. TFC are missing Defoe, Bradley, Osorio, Rey and Henry from the starting XI as they are all on the mend.

We shouldn't miss our top talents too much against a team that's been coasting on luck, should we?

We'll see.

On to the match!

5' - Hall blows possession just a few feet from the penalty area, but Colorado's best long range attempt sails well over the bar

17' - YELLOW - Caldwell booked for a seemingly deliberate handball just outside of the box.  That looked close.

29' - Two chances back to back, Issey lets forth a rocket that nails a defender, but the ensuing rebound is a cutesy lob that beat everyone but the keeper.  Solid attempt.

39' - Edson Buddle (remember him?) tortures the back four, but Julio Cesar bails them out with a solid save.

Quote of the Match

He got hit in the little cesars

~ @Hitchorado with a bit of accuracy

43' - Brilliant long cross finds the diving header from Gilberto, but the ball curls around the post.

44' - Bekker is either scared or disoriented as his every touch of the ball results in a pass backwards.  Seriously, have some confidence and go forward.

Half-time Mood : Underwhelming.  Game still stuck in second gear it appears.

57' - OK, we're awake now.  Just a flurry of action in the box, many attempts, solid blocks, nice passes.  About f'ing time.

58' - Bekker takes a corner that's a little on the brutal side and skips low, but the clearance isn't much better.  Bekker picks up the clearance and floats one into the box finding Caldwell's head but that just goes over the bar.

62' - DeRo gets on the end of a cross and instead of taking the shot (like he should), he lays the ball off for Jackson, who wasn't ready for it and can't get to it before it trickles over the goal line.

67' - SUB - De Rosario comes off injured for *gulp* Weideman.  #ooooohboy

76' - Bekker free kick from 20+ years out curls one around the wall, beats the keeper but not the post.

77' - GOAL - Well, that was nuts.  From what we could tell, the ball kept being passed, desperately, amongst the Rapids and SOMEHOW they keep finding one another and SOMEHOW it ends up with Edson Buddle 5 yds out with Julio Cesar left to fend for himself who is beaten easily.
ROBINS 0, COLO COLO COLORADO 1

86' - Toronto counter attack with some nice ball movement, cross sent to the left side Gilberto who's half-volley end up right at the keeper.  Ugh.

89' - SUB - Hamilton comes on for Bloom

90+2' - All hands on deck as Bekker sets up for a free kick 20 yds out dead centre but his attempt flies over the bar.

FULL TIME : TORONTO 0, COLORADO 1

Man of the Match : Jackson had hustle and caused some problems.  Jackson earns it.  Jackson.

Goat of the Game : Hall was probably the least effective player out there.  He wasn't truly goat-worthy, but he was the most superfluous.

Ref Rating : Equally inconsistent for both sides.  3 out of 5

Kit Spotting : What was with all of the Croatia kits today?  I spotted 4 different ones...

I Am Not the Gaffer But : I likely would've made a change earlier than when started, and it only started after DeRo took a knock.

Bekker was one goal away from silencing critics and nearly had it... What is with the turf? It looks all spongy and fragile. Perhaps the break will allow the grass to finally root... The lack of Bradley must have meant instituting a 'no-play-through-the-centre-of-the-park' policy. A little disturbing resorting to the wings when attacking from the back... Where the hell did the sun go?... After the home opener buzz, it was back to square one as many supporters opted not to make it for the kick-off... I'm still not sure about Gilberto. He probably is the goods, but I just haven't seen conclusive evidence. I want him to deliver... Secretly hoped for DeRo to bag one. He kinda needs one. Or at least set one up.

Player Ratings : Julio Cesar 6.5, Bloom 7 [Hamilton N/A], Orr 6.5, Caldwell 7, Morrow 7, Jackson 7.5, Bekker 6.5, Hall 5.5, Issey 6.5, Gilberto 6.5, De Rosario 6 [Weideman 6]

@ignirtoq can't figure out where the time has gone. He knows this is late, but he was working on the Vocal Minority podcast, which is also up now. He will probably take a nap or two today.

THE MATCHUP: Smile High City

Feeling the good vibes dude

 

TORONTO VS. COLORADO
BMO FIELD - SATURDAY 4PM ET
TV: TSN

WHY SHOULD I WATCH THIS?
- Faced with a lingering injury list, can TFC overcome their shortcomings with second-stringers twice in a row?
- Who gets sent back to the bench despite strong performances against Columbus?
- Now that marijuana is pretty much legal in Colorado, are the Rapids less "rapid"?
- Can BMO Field start to earn a fortress reputation?
- Has the late arrival of spring helped that pitch?
- Can Gilberto lead the Defoe-Free strike force and open his TFC account?
- Can a 4 and 1 Toronto FC actually exist in nature or will a victory cause BMO Field to implode in on itself in a supernova?

MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME:
"El Passpasspuff"

THE DUEL:
Alvaro Rey vs. Jose Mari

WHO ARE YA?
This weekend will be our first look at Colorado Rapids since their home state put some of North America's most liberal marijuana laws into effect. Despite concerns from conservative naysayers, the sky hasn't fallen in the Rocky Mountain State but there have been some minor changes at Rapids matches.

Kick-offs are now listed as "whenever it feels right man"; halftime is now an hour long to take naps into consideration; Rapids' four mascots pretty much just tell each other inside jokes all day; ZigZag is lined up to become the club's first shirt sponsor; there is pressure from fans to trade for Kyle Beckerman; and, nacho sales have skyrocketed.

Otherwise, no change.

WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS:

 

ON THIS DAY IN TFC HISTORY:
April 19th, 2010 - New TFC midfielder Nick LaBrocca misses two matches after being made to file all of his teammate's taxes because "he looked like an accountant".

 

AFTER 90: Silent gesture

COLORADO VS. TORONTO
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PARK
　
After the Voyaguers Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg, Montreal supporters' groups were tremendously unhappy with their club's lack of showing in a 2-0 loss to Toronto. To "voice" what they saw as a lack of passion from their club's leadership in regards to the tournament, they sat in silence during Impact's following fixture to Chicago Fire. God knows how they would have reacted to Toronto FC's pathetic performance in the 2nd Leg.

Now we don't pretend that we have similar influence over our local club, nor will this gesture go noticed by many but tonight we will offer a post-match performance befitting what TFC offered us last Wednesday. We are still watching tonight, we still hope they win and will return to regularly scheduled "After 90's" in the future. In the end we just didn't quite recover from a result that seemed to devastate the support more than the club itself.

FIRST HALF:

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..

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HALFTIME: COLORADO 0 - TORONTO 0

　
SECOND HALF:

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86' - Seriously?
-

　

FULL TIME: COLORADO 1 - TORONTO 0
　
PLAYER RATINGS: Not different enough.
　
THE YORKIES' TFC MAN OF THE MATCH:
Those who watched Wednesday, still tuned in tonight and will do so again.
　
THE BATH:
As we said above, we want nothing but good for this club. We aren't trying to show how "ultra" we are or anything self aggrandizing. This was an expression of exhaustion - a hangover from a beat down that wasn't out of our system in time to crack wise about RapidsMan etc. The inevitable loss at the death was just the cherry on top.

Like a good chunk of you out there who felt the same, and perhaps still do, this post was just what TFC offered our loyalty three nights ago: not bothering to show up. We enjoyed doing this tonight as much as you enjoyed reading it... not much. So our message to TFC is no more nights off like Wednesday - your support rarely take them. Match the unwavering support and forgiveness you've had for six years with effort on the pitch and good things may happen.

Here's to better for club and supporters alike. Our support doesn't waver - we just owed TFC a night off.

THE MATCHUP: May the 4th be with them...

"2014 Season Tickets?..."



COLORADO VS. TORONTO
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PARK - SATURDAY 9PM
TV: THE SCORE
　
THE KICKABOUT:
There are two reasons for the theme of today's "match preview" (those are very generous quotation marks). 1) We're still pretty miffed about Wednesday night in Montreal... and 2) we are giant nerds disguised in football kits. It's probably somewhere in the middle. So, with tomorrow's fixture landing on the admittedly silly "Star Wars Day" (May the 4th - get it? You do? Nerd.) we're going to fluff about a club who totally phoned it in - you know, like George Lucas during the prequels. Get that reference? Nerd.
　
"Hilarious" date aside (again very generous " "s) - Colorado is a fitting locale for this Star Wars themed matchup as it is equal parts Hoth and Bespin. (Heard you snort. Nerd) Maybe we are being too flippant though - apparently this match was of such utter importance that it merited resting starters and sacrificing our Canadian Championship defence for. Not feeling that? Samesies. Well, when this season ends with nothing to show and the club comes begging for your season ticket renewal, remember the words of Aquagenarian philosopher Admiral Albert Francis Ackbar... "IT'S A TRAP!"
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME:
"The Cloud City Classic"
　
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
COLORADO: Deshorn Brown, Atiba Harris, Jamie Smith
TORONTO: Joe Bendik, Robert Earnshaw, Matias Laba
　
THE ODDS:
- 2013 ending with Ewok celebration song and dance: 100-1
- Reds managing to "stay on target" this year: 10-1
- Squad needing another "Death Starring" : EVENS
　
WHO ARE YA?
Despite the nerdosity and overall geekgineering of this post, the six titles of the Star Wars back catalog are actually a fair barometer of TFC's six full seasons. Like so...
- "A NEW HOPE": A plucky, rebellious club bringing football freedom to Torontonians.
- "THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK": TFC's rulers, drunk on success, do battle on supporters' wallets.
- "RETURN OF THE JEDI": The local boy (De Ro) uses his powers for good. Some say he met an unfair end like Boba Fett - others say he was Greedo.
- "THE PHANTOM MENACE": Wiley new coach Preki claims his authority is being destroyed by dark and secretive power known as "Canadian Guys".
- "ATTACK OF THE CLONES": New powers from another world (Holland) attempt to clone TFC into the shape of another club. Went as well as the film.
- "REVENGE OF THE SITH": Emerging from the shadows - the true power reveals himself and takes complete control. "Siths' may be slang for shorts.
　
POST-MATCH HEADLINE: "AND I THOUGHT TFC SMELLED BAD............... ON THE OUTSIDE"
　
And... since we couldn't find the dubstep version of the Ewok Celebration Song (Yub nub wub wub wub-wub-wub-wub) here is something from that wretched hive of scum and villainy not named Stade Saputo...



Nerd.

THE SOUTH STAND REPORT - Toronto v Colorado... or OMGWTFDannyNoooooo...

Dude, that was horriffic.  Can we blame the turf?  Gillette Stadium?  Unfair.  Poor Danny K out for the season with a torn ACL.  Just when it was OK to put away the umbrellas, here we are on the cusp of another sh*tstorm.

Strangely enough, Toronto did hold off New England long enough to take all the points and are in the midst of a 2 game win streak.  Can you logically call 2 wins in a row a streak?  I can't.  3 or greater is a streak, 2 is a smudge.

Thankfully that tag team known as Heat & Humidity aren't nearly as rampant as they've been the last week.  It's comfortable outside.  Perfect weather for a good game of football.  Now the 'good' part could be problematic. #cautiouslyPessimistic

Predictions are 2-1 from yours truly.  Silva and Lambe will do it. Other predictions were 2-0 for the Robins, 1-1 and 1-0 for Colo Colo Colorado.  Joined at the match by @theyorkies1812, @kzknowles and @RohanKoomar, it's time to settle in...

On to the match:

3' - Avila barrels into the box and has his attempt tackled away.

3' - PENALTY - Silva fights with two defenders and gets hauled down by the keeper.  Should've been at least a booking for Pickens and very possibly a sending off but...

MISS by Johnson.  Smacked off the post.

Ryan Rule #1 : He can't control a shot.

Ugh.  Saw that coming.

20' - Our neighbours brought their adorable baby.  Whosacutebaby? I said whosacutebaby? You are! Yes you are!  Hi there! *hands covering eyes* *hands opening* Peekaboo! *hands covering eyes* *hands opening* Peekaboo!

23' - GOAL - Connor Casey scored.  Don't care how. Distracted by the baby girl with big eyes and the big smile.

Robins 0, Colo Colo 1

And no, it's not bad parenting to bring a baby to the supporters end.  It's planning for the future.  It takes a village to raise a child, and even if our village is dysfunctional, insane and probably disturbed, it's still our village dammit!

27' - Silva and Lambe do a nice 1-2 just outside the box but a clutch tackle takes away a great opportunity.

37' - Johnson gets on the end of a cross and heads it just within the reach of Pickens.  OK, that wasn't too bad.

Ryan Rule #2 : He can't control a shot with his feet.

Half-Time mood : meh.  Same as it ever was.

57' - GOAL - Well la-dee-dah.  Ryan Johnson fights his way past a defender, may have handled it a bit, and deftly toe-pokes it past Pickens.  Fine...

Ryan Rule #3 : He can't control a shot with his feet
when he has more than 3 seconds to think about it.

Robins 1, Colo Colo 1

59' - SUB - Avila comes off for new acquisition Weideman.

64' - After last week's effect on the game, we get a special request from the rows below, we start our rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody...

68' - GOAL - Weideman get a deflection off of a Silva shot. Welcome to the madness kid!
Robins 2, Colo Colo 1

71' - Bohemian Rhapsody comes to an end. This may be a thing after all...

84' - SUB - Lambe comes off injured for Stinson

3 mins of extra time

FULL-TIME : Toronto 2, Colorado 1
Holy crap! I guessed it spot on! I was due...

Postmatch photo!

Banner courtesy of @BHTC_Mike and his peeps.
Inspired by @theyorkies1812 I've been told.

Man of the Match : Silva did it for us.  The kid was everywhere tonight and he's a tough bugger dodging tackles and keeping the ball.  Lambe is an honourable mention.

Goat of the Game First Five Minutes : Johnson for the penalty miss.

Ref Rating : 3 out of 5, as they were equally inconsistent for both sides tonight

Kit Spotting : saw a St. Pauli 3rd kit but the winner is the guy wearing the TFC kit... Toulouse FC, that is.

For a team that needs to sign some players, where the hell are they? CB or two, a forward or two, maybe a midfielder. Any time now is good... Johnson. You're breaking my heart homie. Just when we've figured out your deal and how you play, you bag one... The MarinEra(TM) is in full swing as he's managed to pull a result with barely a forward in the side. Hope he's not thinking he's on par with Houdini just yet... forgive my music nerdity but I can't help hearing this song in my head after two home games with a similar outcome (the video sucks but I find the song catchy)... Danny K may not be the best striker in the world or the league, but he's like a security blanket and without him in the side, it just feels weird... So this is officially now a streak, and not a smudge.  Crazy stuff... How messed up is it to be excited about being caught up with the bottom of the league?  On a scale of 1 to 10, it's likely an 8 but this is quite the move, all things considering... Do you think Soolsma misses us?... Lambe is a bit of a beast, isn't he.  Hope his knock isn't too bad, but the kid is tough.  If he was about 3 inches taller an 30 lbs heavier, he'd pummel defenders, wouldn't he?

Team Ratings : Kocic 7, Morgan 6, Emory 6, Ecks 6.5, Henry 6.5, Avila 6 [Wiedeman 6.5], Frings 6.5, Dunfield 6, Lambe 7 [Stinson N/A], Silva 7, Johnson 6.


@ignirtoq can be followed on Teh Twitterz if you're bored. He rarely starts conversations, but if provoked, he's been known to throw in some randomness like a Family Guy episode, except you know the reference and it's not nearly as funny as it was in his head.

THE MATCHUP: Rapidly Seeking Strikers

Are either of you a "fox in the box"?



TORONTO VS. COLORADO
　
BMO FIELD - WEDNESDAY 7PM ET
TV: SPORTSNET ONTARIO/ONE ----RADIO: THE FAN 590
　
THE KICKABOUT:
It's entirely up to you whether you choose to blame the current management team, the previous one or whatever Pagans used to sacrifice virgins on the site of BMO Field. No matter who is at fault for TFC's striker crisis - after Danny Koevermans was ruled out for the season - it's a giant mess. Through some very poor team building/roster management, TFC is currently left with a choice of Ryan Johnson (off of failure to hit sides of barns), Andrew Wiedeman (off of nine games in MLS) and Keith Makubuya (off of soon to be in CSL) as their strike options. Crickets.
　
Even before Koef's untimely injury, the forward role had little depth - especially evident after the dismissal of Joao Plata and Nick Soolsma. This flew under the radar of course because of the even worse crisis on the defensive line and the torrid scoring of Koevermans. Now that there is a mess on two fronts, some very tough transfer decisions need to be made by Mariner & Co. in order to keep TFC's heads above water. A chance then for Colorado Rapids who have yet to beat TFC at BMO Field to take advantage of a paper-thin attack unless someone on The Reds steps up and fills a very big void.
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "El Cursico"
　
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TORONTO: Torsten Frings, Ryan Johnson, Milos Kocic
COLORADO: Conor Casey, Omar Cummings, Martin Rivero
　
THE ODDS:
TFC's "striker crisis" solved by:
- Paul Mariner becoming player/manager: 50-1
- Tiny boots for "Bitchy the Hawk": 25-1
- TFC's "Dream Striker Job" competition winner: 2-1
　
WHO ARE YA?
Much like Bigfoot and Loch Ness, it is a scientific fact that BMO Field is a cursed place built above an ancient burial ground. The exact spot of past virgin sacrifice lies directly below where The Reds strikers roam which has in turn cast spells on TFC strikers with many a malady following:
DANNY KOEVERMANS: Torn ACL
DANNY DICHIO: Lower lumbar/Male pattern baldness
JEFF CUNNINGHAM: Severe sucking
ALI GERBA: Fat
MISTA: Narcolepsy
COLLIN SAMUEL: Fat
CHAD BARRETT: Chronic shanking
ANDREA LOMBARDO: Delayed Dufferin bus
　
POST-MATCH HEADLINE: "JOHNSON AND WIEDEMAN COLLIDE - EVIL LAKESHORE SPIRITS APPEASED"

AFTER 90: Cup holders downed as Koef goes Double Dutch

That's a lot of Colo



THE BUZZ:
Or rather lack thereof. On the quietest day in memory at BMO Field (tornado days notwithstanding) there was a cautious yet apathetic vibe in the air pre-match. Would the TFC that beat Columbus soundly one week ago show up or would it be their evil-twins who went to Mexico City? With a similar line-up to the one that Pumas UNAM'ed all over the park on Wednesday ready to go, a hush fell over the crowd. A 45 minute long hush.
　
FIRST HALF:
39' - YELLOW CARD: Julian de Guzman
　
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHT: Being able to finish that book I was reading in complete silence
FIRST HALF LOWLIGHT: Being awoken from a pleasant nap by the rude halftime whistle
　
HALFTIME: TORONTO 0 - COLORADO 0
　
SECOND HALF:
52' - GOAL: Toronto - Danny Koevermans
TORONTO 1 - COLORADO 0
59' - GOAL: Toronto - Danny Koevermans
TORONTO 2 - COLORADO 0
68' - GOAL: Colorado - Sanna Nyassi
TORONTO 2 - COLORADO 1
73' - SUB: Matt Stinson for Danny Koevermans
79' - SUB: Terry Dunfield for Nick Soolsma
87' - SUB: Mikael Yourassowsky for Eric Avila
　
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHT: Koevermans doing what it says on the tin
SECOND HALF LOWLIGHT: "Attempts" at BMO Field atmosphere
　
FULL TIME: TORONTO 2 - COLORADO 1
　
THE MOOD:
The mood in fact is the strangest thing about this match. Despite a very workmanlike effort that led to a win over the reigning MLS Cup winners, there were times at BMO Field where the proverbial pin could have dropped. It was akin to those days where you watch a match on TV when you are sleepy, only to open your eyes gingerly when your ears hear that a goal has been scored - only to then drift off again.
　
It wasn't TFC's greatest performance ever, and Richard Eckersley's late-mach goal line clearance saved the 3 points, but it was one that would have elicited rapture in times past. Perhaps in the end the "announced" (extra big quotation marks) crowd of 20,000 plus are already done with the 2011 season and have reached the point where sustained success will return raucous atmosphere to BMO Field. After all, who believes they can't follow up this win with an awful display in their next match?
　
The match left us feeling: like we just kissed our cousin.
　
PLAYER RATINGS:
Milos Kocic 6 / Richard Eckersley 6.5 / Andy Iro 6.5 / Ty Harden 5.5 / Ashtone Morgan 6 / Torsten Frings 6 / Julian de Guzman 5 / Eric Avila 6.5 (Mikael Yourassowsky - ) / Nick Soolsma 6 (Terry Dunfield -) / Danny Koevermans 8 (Matt Stinson 6 ) / Ryan Johnson 5
　
THE YORKIES' TFC MAN OF THE MATCH: Danny Koevermans
TALKING POINT: Today's BMO Field PA announcer who offered the gems "Anton Morgan", "Sanny Nyanassi" and "middle-fielder" probably doesn't watch a lot of TFC. Discuss.

THE MATCHUP: "60% of the time, we win half of the time"

Burgundy's in town

TORONTO (17th) VS. COLORADO (5th)
　
BMO FIELD - SATURDAY 1:30PM ET
TV: TSN
　
THE KICKABOUT:
Good day Toronto FC supporters, we're The Yorkies.
Tits McGee is on vacation.
　
After a demoralizing display against Pumas UNAM in Champions League play on Wednesday, can The Reds bounce back at home against The Burgundys? Rapids are looking solid as they head to the playoffs while TFC are looking banged-up and ready to end a miserable 2011 campaign. Last time Colorado walked on BMO Field's grass they had the MLS Cup in their hands - will they relive that glory or can The Reds muster some late-season heart and give their deserved supporters a show? We're in a glass case of emotion.
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "The Sex Panther"
　
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TORONTO: Eric Avila, Torsten Frings, Milos Kocic
COLORADO: Omar Cummings, Caleb Folan, Sanna Nyassi
　
THE ODDS:
- Richard Eckersley throwing a trident at Marvell Wynne: 10-1
- TFC trainers realizing too late that "milk was a bad choice": 20-1
- Andy Iro bagging a classy lady with tickets to the gun show: 30-1
　
WHO ARE YA?
Bob de Klerk: "Founded by the Germansh in 1904, they call them Rapidsh, which of courshe in German meansh a whale'sh vagina"
Aron Winter: "No, there ish no way that ish correct."
BdK: "I'm shorry, I was trying to impressh you. I don't know what it meansh. I'll be honesht, I don't think anyone knowsh what it meansh anymore. Shcholarsh maintain that the transhlation was lost hundredsh of yearsh ago."
AW: "Doesh it not mean a fasht moving river?"
BdK: "No. No."
AW: "No. That ish what it really meansh. Really."
BdK: "Agree to dishagree."
　
THE WAGER: 1-1 Draw (2011: 20-19 with 6 exact scores)
FUTURE HEADLINE: "AFTERNOON DELIGHT!"

AFTER 90: Battling Reds baffle Burgundy

"Rapids are smelly pirate hookers"

In the midst of a ridiculously crowded fixture list, with arguably the season's most important match a mere three days away, Toronto FC faced a difficult trip to face MLS Cup holders Colorado Rapids. Playing the boys in burgundy from The Mile High Suburb is never easy and Aron Winter had some big squad decisions to make with visions of NutCans dancing in his head. So it was off to Commerce City for a tough Sunday evening tilt. Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it Colorado, which of course in German means 'a whale's vagina'.
　
1' - Let's go over the ground rules. "Rule number 1: No touching of the hair or face... AND THAT'S IT!" Kick-off...
2' - Never a good attendance sign when you can read "COLORADO" on the seats at Dick's Sporting Goods Park
4' - Injuries and suspensions leading Aron Winter to field an experimental line-up. The Manhattan Project was an experiment too
8' - Richard Eckersley hustles to pull a cross into Rapids' box but no TFC finishers. Shocking... we know
12' - The Javier Martina / Richard Eckersley right-wing combo causing Rapids early problems
15' - I think someone is playing jazz flute in the stands
17' - Dicoy Williams with a great sliding tackle in the TFC box on Quincy Amarikwa - whose name sounds like Jamiroquai on GolTV
25' - Marvell Wynne is being marked by Dan Gargan. Someone needs to call the UN, that has to be a human rights violation
27' - Jamaican defender Dicoy Williams takes elbow to the face and gets an open cut. Bloodclot!
34' - "Knights of Columbus, that hurt" Ex-Red Tyrone Marshall chops down Super Villain Mikael Yourassowsky. No call
37' - Conor Casey may have spent his injury rehab at Krispy Kreme. Big boy got bigger
41' - Play mostly contained to midfield as both teams having trouble with finishing
44' - "By the beard of Zeus!" A fantastic run by Joao Plata followed by a neat Martina pass sees Nick Soolsma with an open chance but blasts his shot straight into Rapids' keeper Matt Pickens' arms
45' + - Jamiroquai does a virtual insanity dive in TFC's penalty area but the referee correctly (shocking, we know) waves off claims for a Colorado penalty
45' + - Watching last five minutes of the half was like being "in a glass case of emotion"
　
HALFTIME: COLORADO RAPIDS 0 - TORONTO FC 0
　
45' - Will the plan to drink as much warm milk at halftime as possible work for TFC? It sure didn't against Vancouver. "It's so damn hot...milk was a bad choice."
49' - A great run down the wing by Eckersley who fires a shot and forces a good save from Pickens
52' - Dan Gargan's handball leads to a free kick taken by Sanna Nyassi. Cleared by Nathan Sturgis (he exists!) after a scramble in front of Stefan Frei
56' - Conor Casey collides heavily with Dicoy Williams. "Right in the ovary... A straight shot. Right in the babymaker."
59' - SUB: "Look, I don't speak Spanish" Joao Plata off for Maicon Santos or possibly Mike Sanders
61' - "Sweet Lincoln's mullet!" Mikael Yourassowsky with a surging run but his drilled shot hits the Rapids crossbar. So unlucky
64' - Teams trading chances at goal, surprisingly The Reds looking more likely to capitalize... for now
69' - Rapids succumbing to constant foul calls and getting up in the ref's face. They need to shut their "dirty whorish mouths"
74' - SUB: Adrian Cann comes off in what must be a NutCan preservation plan. "Mr. Mobility" Ty Harden
 his replacement
80' - Rapids suddenly pouring on the pressure and causing Gargan to be more involved. Never a good thing
82' - YELLOW CARD for Javier Martina as things get scrappy in the midfield and the Dutch dread gets testy
83' - SUB: "Son of a bee-sting!" A rare sight as Nana Attakora makes an appearance and come on for the equally phantom Nathan Sturgis
86' - Frei makes a big save on a whipping Rapids cross only to be hit hard by a charging Jeff Larentowicz. The Goalblerone is okay... Thank God
89' - "Oh TFC, there are literally thousands of clubs that I should be with instead but I am 72 percent sure that I love you."
90'+ - Marvell Wynne's pace has successfully eliminated 99% of Toronto counter-attacks. How does a club acquire a player of his ilk?
90'+ - Ref finally closes the (very) long extra time, signalling the end of an entertaining draw
　
FULL TIME: COLORADO 0 - TORONTO FC 0
　
The usual line on a TFC away match is "60% of the time... they lose every time". Despite low expectations due to fatigue, injury and the Mile High conditions, The Reds surprised tonight with a rag-tag line-up that performed admirably and were rarely inferior to the MLS Cup holders. Some very good wing play from both Richard Eckersley and Mikael Yourassowsky was positive but did however illuminate the woeful finishing options on the squad. Overall, a reasonably good performance and a welcome away point - something as rarefied as the Colorado air. Stay classy Commerce City.
　
PLAYER RATINGS: Stefan Frei 6.5 / Richard Eckersley 7.5 / Dicoy Williams 7 / Adrian Cann 6.5 / Dan Gargan 5.5 / Alen Stevanovic 6 / Nathan Sturgis 6 / Mikael Yourassowsky 7 / Nick Soolsma 6 / Javier Martina 6 / Joao Plata 6 / SUBS: Maicon Santos 5.5 / Ty Harden 6 / Nana Attakora -
　
TFC MAN OF THE MATCH: Richard Eckersley
TFC GOAT OF THE MATCH: Nick Soolsma
　
TALKING POINT:
Point made. Attakora over Gargan every time. Discuss

THE MATCHUP: Will Reds go limp at Dick's?

Another big Dick's crowd



COLORADO (5th) VS. TORONTO FC (14th)
　
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PARK - SUNDAY 7PM ET
TV: GOLTV
　
Disclaimer: If religious kooks are somehow correct and there's a Rapture this weekend, the match may be delayed - if not, business as usual. Either way, Dick's Sporting Goods Park will be nearly empty. Considering only the "righteous and pure" are meant to be taken... The Yorkies post-match will be unaffected.
　
Two questions stand out in the lead-up to this match: Will Aron Winter rest his 1st Team to prepare for the far more important NutCan Final 2nd Leg on Wednesday? And... How many "Dick's" puns are too much? Answers: Possibly and no such thing. Wang... Computers. Whatever happened to Wang Computers?
　
Reigning MLS Cup Holders Colorado are always stiff (1) competition at home, no matter their form, due to the impressive vertical (2) altitude of the solid (3) Rocky Mountain region. The Burgundys will also be playing on a full 7 days rest on Sunday which will see them full of vigour (4) and stamina (5). Expect them to play long balls. I know... but guess what? (That's 6)
　
It will be interesting to see how Aron Winter handles (7) his line-up. The NutCan (8) Final should be the priority to the club as it represents their only real chance at success in 2011. A full slate of fixtures, mounting (9?) injuries and lengthy (10) travel have pounded (11) TFC recently. While we never promote tanking in any match, resting the 1st team and giving some of the bench squad a run out seems to be the pertinent thing to do. If The Reds try to muddle starters through this match only to inevitably lose 1-0... and then lose to Vancouver - they will just look like dicks. Oh yeah... (12).
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "The Dick's Dilemma"
　
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
COLORADO RAPIDS: Drew Moor, Matt Pickens, Jamie Smith
TORONTO FC: Richard Eckersley, Stefan Frei, Maicon Santos
　
THE ODDS
- Rapids staff laying loose clothes over the many empty seats and claiming The Rapture affected match attendance: 10-1
- TFC's performance described as flaccid, limp or impotent: 50-1
- Dick's Sporting Goods Park" puns getting old: 500-1
　
WHO ARE YA?
- Former Red and current Rapids favourite Marvell Wynne apparently took a financial bath on a line of ill-timed, Charlie Sheen inspired "WYNNE-ING" merchandise
- Dick's Sporting Goods Park is located in the Denver suburb of Commerce City. Residents are called "Commercials" and the main exports are wraparound sunglasses, John Denver and football apathy.
- Despite sharing an owner and the exact same stadium atmosphere, Rapids have distanced themselves from sister-club Arsenal by managing to win a trophy
　
DUTCH-ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION OF THE MATCH
"Breeding ish hard in de Mile High Shity"
　
TURGID (13) SAYS: 2-0 Colorado
STURGIS (14?) SAYS: 0-0 Draw
HEADLINE: "REDS LEFT WISHING RAPTURE WAS REAL"

"Interim-ish" Director continues addition by subtraction

(Left to right) Nane, Nana (Right to left) Nana, Nane

In the continuing goal to erase all memory that Toronto FC's 2010 season existed, The Reds traded midfielder Joseph Nane to the MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids for a 3rd Round SuperDraft pick in 2012. The affable yet vaguely talented Cameroon native, who was drafted in the 4th Round of the 2010 Draft, was absurdly and mistakenly claimed as first team quality by "management". So much so that Sam Cronin (the highly touted 1st Round pick of 2009) was soon shipped to San Jose for little in return by mastermind/ unemployment impresario Mo Johnston. Surely the rumours that Preki's agent-brother represented Nane had little to do with his acquisition and play... surely. Only crazy people would run a club like that!

The big holding midfielder will be most fondly remembered for having no one be quite sure if his name was actually Nane Joseph or Joseph Nane for two months. Apart from his name game, the graduate of Old Dominion (the American university not an aging supermarket) will be a very raw blip on the radar of TFC's long list of overhyped and undertalented roster spot bodies.

Kudos to Earl Cochrane for managing to get a 3rd Round pick for a guy most Reds supporters wouldn't have blinked at if he had been released outright. Cochrane meanwhile continues to do the basics well, mostly subtracting the dead wood assembled by PrekiMo International Inc., however if his "Interim" label does get dropped, he may find the addition part more challenging.

AFTER 90: Canadian Rocky Mountain High - MLS Cup Final 2010 Special Edition

Well it felt that way!

COLORADO RAPIDS 2 - FC DALLAS 1 (ET)
MLS Cup Final
　
After all the bluster in the weeks leading up to tonight's MLS Cup Final about possible fan boycotts and fears of an empty BMO Field, only bedtime ruined the night. A healthy-sized if muted (for BMO Field standards) crowd did end up attending the match but Major League Soccer's ridiculous scheduling on a late Sunday night killed what atmosphere there may have been. When the players so rudely decided to play extra time, a good chunk of the crowd decided not to join them.
　
It's a shame too. The match, which turned out to be very entertaining for the neutral, should have been enjoyed on Saturday or Sunday afternoon without the rush to get home for work or school in the morning nor fighting the freezing night temperatures. For two of the league's least "glamorous" clubs, Colorado and Dallas put up a good fight with both of their star players, Conor Casey and league MVP David Ferreira grabbing goals. A nicely wrapped 90 minute package would have been ideal but neutral supporters can't be expected to put up with conditions that were created by care for media outlets, NFL schedules and advertising revenue before fans. The league must fix this for future success.
　
Sadly, the on-field result came down to an own-goal mistake by FC Dallas' George John. The least they could have done was penalty kicks for the hardcores who stuck it out to the end. How rude of our visitors! In the end, Toronto's turn to host the MLS Cup Final will be a mere apathetic blip in MLS history. We could hold out hope that future league playoffs will turn out better but league commissioner Don Garber laid out plans for a ridiculous sound expanded playoff structure. "Great" said future TFC GM Earl Cochrane - "my job just got easier!"
　
Congrats to Rapids (despite your Arsenal leanings) and come back again to both sets of terrific sets of travelling supporters. Sorry about the frostbite. Hope you like the Butty.
　
MAN OF THE MATCH: Conor Casey (COL)
GOAT OF THE MATCH: George John (FCD)
　
MATCH IN FIVE WORDS: Long. Cold. Early GO Train.
　
SENSATIONAL HEADLINE: "10 TEAM PLAYOFFS IN 2011 - TFC RE-SIGNS GARCIA"
　
TOTALLY FAKE POST-MATCH QUOTE: "H-h-h-ow d-d-d-do you p-p-p-eople live in th-th-th-these c-c-c-conditions?" - Jose, travelling (and chilly) FC Dallas supporter

Wynne: Congrats to a class act

THE MATCHUP: On the outside looking in... MLS Cup Final Toronto 2010 Special Edition

The word "Toronto" near a trophy... so rare!

COLORADO RAPIDS VS. FC DALLAS
　
BMO FIELD - SUNDAY 8:30 PM ET
TV: TSN2 (VARIOUS NORTH AMERICAN NETWORKS)
　
Back in those glorious, successful Mo Johnston-led years, Toronto FC owners, Maple Leaf Sports & "Entertainment", promised to bring a championship to the city within their famous "five-year plan". Well, they did it... and with a year left on the plan! The fact that TFC aren't anywhere near the Cup Final is a minor detail they'd rather us not mention.
　
Yes, The Bay Street Monopoly Tycoons persuaded Major League Soccer to hold their biggest match in Toronto... in late November... with dollar signs flashing in their eyes. At that time, TFC-fever meant that ML$E could put a red shirt on a monkey and charge $200 dollars but a disastrous 2010 season followed by gluttonous ticket price increases meant that MLS Cup interest disappeared in the city. On this realization of course, ML$E "gifted" the tickets on top of 2011 Season Ticket prices thus creating fan anger which has further fuelled local animosity towards the match. Sunday evening's 0 Degree Celsius weather forecast is just the karma cherry on top.
　
ML$E of course prayed to whatever secret sun/goat god they worship for a New York v LA final but alas they were "re-gifted" with the least glamourous final in MLS history. While the match may indeed turn out to be entertaining and will crown a first-time champion, it did nothing to create any "Cup Fever". In Toronto, the apathy is palpable and you get the feeling that ML$E would rather the whole potentially embarrassing event would just go away. Planned "fan events" and celebrations have been muted at best and Monday can't seem to come quick enough. Of course, that means ML$E must once again pretend to prepare for TFC to be in next year's final. But they'd rather we don't mention that either.
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "The Forced To Be Here Cup"
　
BURGUNDY BOREDOM: Conor Casey, Pablo Mastroeni, Marvell Wynne
FC DULL-ASSED: Kevin Hartman, Brek Shea, David Ferriera　

THE ODDS:
- Don Garber wondering aloud "where the league's best fans are?": 5-1
- Players succumbing to frostbite related injuries: 3-1
- ML$E still managing to make a massive profit: EVENS
　
WHO ARE YA?
- Sunday's match may be the coldest cup final since Dynamo Iqaluit beat Alert Wednesday in the 1992 Inuit Champions League Final
- BMO Field is preparing for the expected rush of visiting Colorado and Dallas supporters with 9 extra folding chairs on order
- ML$E are training their employees to keep Toronto FC supporters as far from the MLS Cup as possible, in order to keep expectations in check for 2011
　
RAPIDS FANS SAY: 2-1 Colorado
FC DALLAS FANS SAY: Huh? We have a soccer team? 14-10 Texas?
HEADLINE: "MLS CUP IN TORONTO... APPARENTLY"

AFTER 90: The Fortress of Solotude

BMO's renovation takes shape

TORONTO FC 1 - COLORADO 0

It took four years but Toronto FC has finally found a way to compensate with terrible road form - don't lose at home... ever. BMO Field has indeed become "Fortress BMO" with TFC having one of the best home records in the league. While The Reds aren't scoring boatloads of goals, they have found a way to score one goal and fight and scrap their way to points. Against the Rapids on Saturday, the scrappy was evident.

It was the same cast of characters for Toronto who looked miserable against Colorado back in April but the squad has transformed its backbone and have learned to fight. The match wasn't pretty through the first half but TFC showed a good team work ethic and their constant hassling of the Rapids eventually paid off. In the 61st minute, young TFC forward Fuad Ibrahim pushed and shoved his way past a very sloppy Colorado defense and scored his first of the season.

Despite a late Colorado offensive effort, which was handled solidly by Stefan Frei, the one goal stood again and Preki's socialist heroes fought their way to three points. The 2010 Reds are far from a sexy football team to watch but they are giving the BMO Field faithful something new - results.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Stefan Frei (TFC)

GOAT OF THE MATCH: Danny Earls (COL)

MATCH IN FIVE WORDS: Fighty. Scrappy. Teamworky. Swisstasticy. Ballsy.

SENSATIONAL HEADLINE: "RAPIDS GET FUAD FOR THOUGHT"

TOTALLY FAKE POST-MATCH QUOTE: "I, General Radosavljevic, have declared The Socialist Peoples' Toronto Football Regime has brought great honour to the workers who are our brothers. Comrade Frei and our Red Army fought together with the spirit of labour and have brought glorious victory over the capitalist bourgeoisie from Colorado. Unite!" - Preki on TFC's new found workmanship

NEXT TFC MATCH: at Philadelphia Union - Saturday 3:30PM

THE MATCHUP: Hot Rapid-on-Rapid action!

---------------It takes days for The Rapids to get to Toronto

TORONTO FC (7th) VS. COLORADO (5th)
　
BMO Field - Saturday 12PM ET
TV: CBC
　
There hasn't been this many rapids in football since Colorado Rapids held the Marcelo Balboa Testimonial match against Rapid Vienna in a raft on actual rapids... and played quickly... er, rapidly. Toronto FC's Preki-motivated 2010 rebuilding plan was to collect as many former average Colorado Rapids as possible and fit them into the Serb's workman like socialist manifesto. Colorado in the meantime just took two really talented Reds off of Toronto's hands and let them play... well.
　
Rapids, the MLS' equivalent to tapioca pudding, splash down (see what I did there - Rapids? Never mind.) into Toronto after winning the home leg of the tie 3-1 back in April. TFC have improved somewhat since then but lately the vaunted "Fortress BMO" has only been good for draws. Indeed, the house on Lakeshore is more a "House of Ties". Not "House of Lies"... his office is upstairs at BMO. The transfer window is yet to open, so like a dog whose owner left him in the car, TFC will have to suffocate through the stifling offence of Barrett and O'Brien before a friendly Mista can come by and open the scoring. Weird analogy yes... but it's a heatwave. My brain is woozy. Yo homes to Bel-Air!... See.
　
MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "The Red-Rapid Re-Run"
　
Re-Rapids: Nick La Brocca, Dan Gargan, Ty Harden, Adrian Cann
Red Redux: Conor Casey, Marvell Wynne, Jamie Smith (well a Red trialist at least!)
　
THE ODDS:
- Confused ex-players to score multiple own-goals: 3-1
- Altitude-junky Rapids to be confused by sea-level Toronto: 5-1
- Teams to transfer four more players at the half: 10-1
- Homesick Marvell Wynne to go on pre-match syrup, Timbits and Chip Butty bender: 6-4
　
WHO ARE YA?
- Noon kickoff means an early morning start back in Colorado where all of the Rapids' die hard supporters will watch the match over breakfast. Hi you four - how's the bacon?
- Rapids owner Stan Kroenke is still aiming to buy the controlling shares in English club Arsenal and thus continue his quest to own the world's most boring football clubs
- Rapids were voted 17th most popular Denver sports team just behind the Colorado Peeks pro-bird watching club and the Denver Windwmillz of the X-Treme Mini Golf Association
- Colorado has not one, not two... but four fluffy club mascots! (See for yourself) Not shown is former mascot "Rapidman" (pictured below) who is rumoured to appear on the next season of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew"
　
METRE HIGH CITY SAYS: 1-0 Toronto
MILE HIGH CITY SAYS: 0-0 Draw
HEADLINE: "FANS SHOCKED AS HARDEN, LA BROCCA AND GARGAN JOIN INTO GIANT ROBOT 'RAPIDTRON' - CITY IN RUINS"

-----------------------Rapidman: working on issues

Big, boring, burgundy beating

------------------------"Stay crappy, Mo Johnston"

The only other noise that could be heard through the continuous din of fog horns and high-pitched children's screams emanating from Dick's this afternoon, was the exasperated sighs of Toronto supporters. There can be little doubt left in any Reds' fans minds that this club isn't moving forward and "gelling" as has been shoved down our throats through MLSE promotions (i.e. GOLTV). In fact it is a very fair assessment to say that this version of TFC is the worst, and definitely least entertaining, since Year One.

Toronto FC under Preki not only have yet to score a goal from regular open-play but most shockingly have yet to find anything that remotely looks like an offensive strategy. The lone TFC goal in today's 3-1 loss to the "Burgundy Army" of Colorado was once again a Dwayne De Rosario converted penalty. Good for De Ro's account - awful for Toronto's prospects. Has anyone in the front office cared to ponder what happens if TFC's "One Man Gang" gets injured? It does happen in football occasionally you know.

Colorado opened the scoring today in a first half which was incredibly shoddy on both sides but hardly saw TFC anywhere near Rapids' goal. The goal was result of a Conor Casey penalty after the usual "high-quality" MLS referee called a handball on Adrian Cann - which was clearly a faceball and nowhere near the Thornhill giant's hands. Despite gaining some momentum after tying the game through De Ro's penalty not long after, TFC came out flat in the second half and their lack of quality showed.

A clumsy tackle by the highly overrated and vastly under-talented Martin Saric led to a free kick which Rapids' Jeff Larentowicz powered through the Toronto wall and passed a bewildered Stefan Frei. The keeper's bewilderment likely came from the fact that TFC's DP, and voted "Least Wanting To Be Here", Julian de Guzman, jumped out of the way of the shot's path creating a gaping whole for the ball to curl into the net. A player of JDG's quality should know better, although that genuine quality has yet to show in Toronto. A further messy tackle by Russian rightback Maksim Usanov gave Rapids their second penalty late in the second half and Conor Casey iced the cake with their 3rd.

The result is one that wasn't entirely unexpected but that in itself is quite sad. The fact that in this club's fourth year fans can't expect TFC to compete on the road against a mediocre club in front of the most tepid support in the league is so unfair to 21,000 BMO Field customers and many more on TV and radio. As a cherry on top - wasn't it just great to see Marvell Wynne looking comfortable and explosive in a centreback role? That Wynne was never even experimented in that position in three years, when TFC had a gaping whole there, is a glaring example of the total lack of football knowledge in charge of this club. But like road losses, I guess that is just another reality we've all had to just accept.

THE MATCHUP: Mo to unveil 5-year plan to battle altitude

------John Denver + 10 Muppets = 11. Mo Johnston has an idea...

COLORADO RAPIDS (8th) VS. TORONTO FC (10th)
　
Dick's Sporting Goods Park - 5:00PM EST
TV: GOLTV -----RADIO: THE FAN 590
　
Toronto FC's spirits may be a bit higher after their 2-1 win over the 10-man Union but their game will need to be elevated if they want a result in the Mile High City - well, the Mile High Suburbs at least. Three matches in eight days is no easy task for any club but TFC desperately needs to show some consistency and also the ability to get some points on the road. "The Dick" isn't exactly a fierce place to visit but if Toronto makes the poor mistakes they did against Philly, they will be punished often.
　
You can forgive Rapids supporters (Hello, you four!) for thinking it's a split squad match as TFC is stacked full of former Maroons. However, can our Re-Rapids return for some Rocky revenge? No less than five Reds have played for Rapids - Dan Gargan "Tuan", Ty "Tryin' Hard" Harden, Adrian "Yes We" Cann, Nick LaBrocca “nd roll all night” and Jacob "Too Plain for Nickname" Peterson. Perhaps these Colorado vets can give some insight into the mind of your average Rapid. If it works, Mo can go out and trade for half of the next opponents every week!
　
Rapids are an improved club this year and boast a wide range of TFC killers. Big man on campus Conor Casey is supported by return Red-killer Mehdi "Jim/John" Ballouchy and their new explosive centreback - American International Marvell Wynne. We hear great things about Wynne who has adapted instantly to a new CB role. Wow, whatever club had him before Colorado must be really kicking themselves! Wish we could have an explosive centreback. (No, Garcia - not implosive... go away.) Either way, it's going to be a hard one for TFC when they have to face Mile High Dick's on little rest.
　
What?
　
JOHN DENVER SAYS: 3-0 Colorado
BOB "GILLIGAN" DENVER SAYS: 1-0 Colorado
NEWSPAPER HEADLINE: ROCKY MOUNTAIN HORROR PICTURE SHOW

----------------------------------"DEN-VER!!!"

Wynne out of our sails

In the end, Marvell Wynne's explosive speed ran him right out of town. The jovial American wing-back, who became a quick fan favourite after his 2007 arrival, seems to be the latest victim of the "Mo Johnston Last Minute Club". Wynne has been shipped off to Colorado Rapids in exchange for versatile midfielder Nick "La Rock" LaBrocca and a low draft pick thrown in for fun.
　
Wynne will always be the "should've been" superstar for Toronto. His blinding runs down the flank and ability to backtrack on defence like a bullet were met with awe when he arrived but the inevitable development seemed to stall over the last year. Despite flirtations with the US Men's National Team the swift Californian couldn't raise his game, especially in regards to first touches and crosses. Many TFC observers had grown tired of waiting for Wynne to expand on his obvious raw skills and it seems as if Preki was in that camp too.
　
Nick LaBrocca comes as a relatively unknown commodity in these parts but seems to be highly regarded by Rapids supporters - all 17 of them. He has played the majority of minutes for the Mountain Men and has played at every midfield position and also in a pinch at left-back. He seems like a workhorse and fits in with the other Re-Rapids TFC has picked up - Ty Harden and Jacob Peterson. Of course, a midfielder doesn't exactly fill The Reds' emergency holes in the defence and up front but that's not LaBrocca's fault and depth is of course an issue too.
　
Further movement rumoured today, but not confirmed officially, has TFC moving GK Brian Edwards either by trade or in a release. If this comes to fruition it would be a move to open up cap room, likely to pay for the signatures of trialists Adrian "Yes We" Cann and Martin Saric. Former Chivas USA backup keeper Jon Conway is reportedly in camp so there may be flame to this smoke. The fact that Mo Johnston looked up from his winter solstice and realized that the season starts in two days is just further proof of the phenomenal work this true Hall of Famer does. Now... which button on the keyboard denotes sarcasm?

---------------------Good luck Marv. Enjoy the quiet.

TFC acquires a body

Mo Johnston did the improbable but necessary today by adding some much needed depth to the Toronto FC squad. TFC brings in midfield utility player Jacob Peterson from Colorado Rapids in exchange for the mystery which is allocation money. The 23 year old American made 23 appearances for Rapids in 2009 scoring 2 goals and grabbing 2 assists in 12 starts for the Maroons.

Always happy to paint a signing as the next coming of Christ, Mo Johnston crowed that "this is a player that Preki has been wanting for some time". If Peterson, who had stints with the US under-23 squad, can at least provide some good minutes off of the bench he will be more useful than what The Reds' currently have. If he can push for starting time all the better.

While a midfielder isn't exactly on the top of TFC's wishlist right now, depth is always a good thing. There have been rumours that TFC are looking at Egyptian defender/ bad egg on every team he's played for Ibrahim Said but no concrete word yet from BMO Field. If the impending labour trouble in MLS comes to a head on January 31st, Peterson will be the last signing we are likely to see until the lockout is resolved.

3 Points to the Future

Whether or not TFC make the playoffs, and it is still an uphill battle, one thing was evident in today's 3-2 win over Colorado - the future is near. In the stadium, on the broadcast and most importantly on the pitch - change is in the air. That change is going to be necessary if this club is serious about moving forward and many of the pieces showed their potential today. However, much of the team's established baggage showed why it is time for deeper, potentially difficult, transition.

In a week where TFC celebrated the retirement of one hero and welcomed it's latest, today's scrappy win illustrated the need for a dedication in the off-season to trimming the fat. It was the players who have joined the club this year who showed all the determination and heart today and were directly responsible for the victory. It was some of the established players who nearly threw it away with lazy, uninspired performances.

Dwayne De Rosario, the club's true on-field leader, dragged the team through the 1st half, eventually scoring a great goal in the 19th minute making his tally 10 on the year. The match continued to be scrappy as the half wound down with Ali Gerba showing the best flashes and having one of his most solid physical showings as a Red. The two clubs went into the dressing rooms at 1-0 but as the 2nd half begun it seemed as if the usual TFC let-down had returned. The lethal Conor Casey equalized early for Rapids and sucked the air out of BMO before most of the Chip Butty Brigade had returned to their seats. Colorado continued to dominate until Chris Cummins went with a youth movement bringing in O'Brian White and debutant Lesly Fellinga in as subs. White barely had a sweat on before scoring a beautiful poacher's flick and putting TFC ahead. Young standout defender Nana Attakora added the third with his first ever MLS goal and despite some sloppiness and a second Rapids goal, Toronto grabbed an essential 3 points.

While the young dynamic Reds were making all the difference and De Ro was leading the charge, some veterans simply didn't show up. Amado Guevara gets some sympathy for just returning from international play but he simply disappears too many times for this team. His often selfish, lazy play and mock frustration at his teammates' supposed shortcomings has grown tired. All or nothing performances are not needed on this team. Captain, Jim Brennan is an undeniable favourite but seems to be losing a step every match. His once assured crosses are gone and defenders are getting by him with regularity. In the "Beat a Dead Horse Department", Chad Barrett amazes. He amazes by somehow making it into the starting line-up every week. It is not an effort problem with the Welfare Rooney but the fact that he has so little football intelligence as reflected by head-down runs and idiotic fouls like those witnessed today. There has to be some addition by subtraction this off-season with superior replacements.

The last glimpses of TFC 2010 came courtesy of the CBC TV broadcast. MLSE's Tom Anselmi was enthusiastically pumping the corporate "plan" to install real grass in time for next year. He glossed over the city council vote though and we prefer to stick with De Ro's assessment of "...believe it when I see it". The other choice peek into BMO Field circa 2013 was Danny Dichio plainly saying that after getting his coaching chops he'd "want to be manager of this club one day". That no doubt got a lot of Keegans in a twist in Toronto but hopefully it will only be when he is truly ready. 3 points then, a little closer to the playoffs but better is needed if TFC truly wants a shot at post season. If they fail in that quest, let's hope that today's optimistic signs are embraced fully and not with the usual half-baked off-seasons of the past three years.