Has this joke run its course yet? No? Good because we are not halfway done. The set will all be online before the season kicks off. Keep the comments coming as I've clearly learned that if I do these again next season, I will be sure to make the cards of all the obvious ones I missed this time around. This round of cards includes the legend Dewayne DeRosario, Jack Jewsbury and defensive anchor Nana Attakora in TFC attire.
TORONTO (17th) VS. SAN JOSE (14th) BMO FIELD - SATURDAY 7PM ET TV: GOLTV -----RADIO: FAN 590 THE KICKABOUT: - Is TFC's sudden lack of scoring a long-term issue or can they break out of their goal funk? - Can the much needed Danny Koevermans return from injury? - Which Quakes' ex-Red do Toronto fans miss most - Attakora, Cronin, Peterson or Gordon? - How many negative messages on Twitter will Jacob Peterson post during the match? - What would Frank Yallop trade to us for our whole defence? MANUFACTURED DERBY NAME: "The Trading Post" PLAYERS TO WATCH: TORONTO: Eric Avila, Andy Iro, Ryan Johnson SAN JOSE: Bobby Convey, Jacob Peterson, Chris Wondolowski THE ODDS: - Jacob Peterson Tweeting that he'll only miss "Ty Harden and Tiny Tom Donuts" when he leaves Toronto again: 20-1 - TFC going down 1-0 only to be saved by a biblical flood, locust infestation or rivers of blood: 50-1 - Alan Gordon waving to the crowd - injuring wrist in process: 75-1 WHO ARE YA? - A protest is planned outside of BMO Field by victims of last Tuesday's "Great Toronto Earthquake 2011" Nearly 1's of people were hurt in the quake that registered nearly 3 on the Richter scale by time it reached Toronto. Protesters are angered over the insensitivity of the San Jose club's name. Never forget. - With the incredible amount of players that have suited up for both of these clubs, FIFA has voted Saturday's match as "Most Incestual Fixture - 2011"
- To help flagging attendance, MLSE is planning a halftime tribute to former Canadian pro wrestler John "Earthquake" Tenta. Never forget.
THE WAGER: 1-0 Toronto (2011: 19-17 with 6 exact scores)
The Reds made a curious pair of deals today in that they both seem to represent the beginning of a path to change rather than a conclusion. The club officially announced the acquisition of 29-year-old Canadian international midfielder Terry Dunfield from Vancouver Whitecaps while a deal sending Nana Attakora to San Jose Earthquakes has been announced by the player, but at time of writing yet to be officially announced by TFC. The feisty Dunfield, most famous in these parts for his recent goal at BMO Field with Canada, had seen his minutes and performance dwindle lately with Whitecaps. Highly regarded for his grit and work ethic, the Vancouver native can definitely add some depth in the midfield but his acquisition will raise loud(er) questions over the immediate future of Julian de Guzman. With Tony Tchani returning to health and DP Torsten Frings about to enter the fray, space may be limited in the middle of the pitch. The departure of Nana Attakora is a disappointing ending to a TFC career which started on Day One and which many supporters thought would last for years to come. The young capped Canadian emerged as a solid MLS back last year and many expected him to jump from strength to strength this season. Yet, somehow Attakora fell afoul of the new TFC management through a bizarre combination of contract dispute, apparent sub-standard form and a rash of injuries. It is hard to comment fully on this deal until the details of what TFC is getting in return are confirmed but the glaring alarm on this transfer is that a team which is desperately in need of defence traded away a potential defensive stalwart. It is easy to imagine that both deals are the first steps towards even further flux at BMO Field. UPDATES BELOW AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE...
4:15PM - Toronto FC have confirmed a very big deal. The Nana Attakora deal now includes Jacob Peterson and Alan Gordon who all head to San Jose in return for Jamaican international midfielder/forward Ryan Johnson. The move opens a number of roster spots as well as affecting cap space with more moves, especially defensive, no doubt in the pipeline.
What could be the worst way to repair a defence that just saw itself ripped open for six goals this past weekend? How about losing the anchor of that already porous backline for the remainder of the season? No?
Thought you'd seen the last of Ty Harden? Think again, as Aron Winter and Toronto FC received terrible injury news today after Adrian Cann took a bad knock at practice. Tests on the sometime Canadian International defender / sometime fashion model came back later with the news that he had damaged his ACL, an injury which devastates any athlete. “I can confirm that Adrian has torn his ACL and will miss the rest of the season” said Winter - who likely went off to weep gently and swear in Dutch.
With the transfer window set to open, TFC will now have another major hole to fill in a defence that was already a jigsaw puzzle of mediocrity. In the immediate future, Cann's duties should fall to Nana Attakora who may have a chance to win back his starting role. If the young Canadian doesn't get this opportunity, Winter's decision will be scrutinized loudly. Sadly, with Dicoy Williams at the Gold Cup with Jamaica, the much-maligned Ty Harden will likely see minutes - and likely cost the club more goals.
Read the rest of the horror story at the Toronto FC site.
A strange episode in our favourite soap opera "As The Reds Turn" this afternoon as media tongues started wagging when Nana Attakora failed to show at practice. According to the player himself this afternoon, he was simply sick with a headache and was sent home. He claimed not to have heard anything from the club about any potential transaction or release.
Part of the reason that this story has turned from spark to flame so quickly may have much to do with the awful 2011 Attakora has had so far. Last season the young Canadian defender was making waves with the national team and looking as if he would be Toronto FC's defensive rock for years to come. However, this season has seen him go from one problem to the next. Pre-season began with contract renegotiation woes (which have yet to be resolved), self-proclaimed "personal problems" off the pitch and a horrible time trying to adjust his style to fit in with Aron Winter's system. Oh, and that odd flirtation with dreadlocks.
Any move to release Nana Attakora at the present time would be considered odd considering the tremendous problems in Toronto FC's backline. However, when Attakora can't push away the likes of "all-stars" Ty Harden and Dan Gargan in Aron Winter's eyes, it's obvious something is very wrong with the young Canadian. Hopefully the sudden episode this afternoon was nothing more than a case of the media adding 1+1 and coming up with 4 – and as of this moment it does seem this way. But, as we've seen before at TFC, a puff of smoke can quickly turn into an inferno.
WORD FACTOR: 1 / 10
Any updates on this story will follow here...
4PM - Apparently Dan Gargan was sent home ill as well so maybe the story isn’t so bad after all!
The end. Not that phoney end on Saturday that I ditched to go to Montreal for, but the real end of the season. Our season has been one nice steady make-out session where you've gone further than "under the shirt-over the bra" at HER house, only to get denied by YOUR parents. The only release is that of anger and frustration.
Yes, it was elaborate.
As a future attendee of the much hallowed Town Hall, which should be renamed Smoke Blowing, I will choose to save the rage for Tommy. We know how this goes.
Bombing out of Champions League is just like attempts of Young Boys Bern, Panathinaikos and whatever that team Tommy Radzinski played for. One game, nothing to play for and against Wisla Krakow who are in the same boat.
Oh the magic of Champions League.
Predictions - silence due to protest - silence due to crap attendance - a youth team player will have a legit chance at net, then turn to OBW yelling "seeeeee! Like that!" - ArabeUnido will play dirty and cheat as hard as they can - ArabeUnido 4, Toronto 2 (in yellow cards)
Starting XI
Conway Garcia - Attakora - Henry - Gargan Ibby - Morgan - deGoo - Labrocca Lindsay - DeRo (I think)
4 - Attakora takes a knock and goes off for a sip. He's OK.
7 - Ibrahim crosses the ball and gets stopped by a raised arm. No call.
16 - DeRo gets a deep ball into the corner, tries to chip the keeper, but he stops it.
Quote of the match:
I hope you're let go!
- random at Ibby after a few howlers
21 - for 40 seconds, Arabe are just playing with Garcia and Henry right now, how the cheats haven't scored I one yet.
25 - Arabe 11 takes a knock and rolls around like a bowling pin. Seriously piss off cheat.
26 - DeRo has a go from 20 yds out and slams over the north stand.
28 - Lindsay has a go from 25 yds out. Not much behind it but it is a real shot on target and that's a first for this game.
30 - GOAL - set piece from Labrocca, headed textbook style far left by Nana Attakora. Good stuff and well earned.
34 - YELLOW - Garcia for a late tackle though the ref missed an earlier one against TFC.
40 - YELLOW - Arabe player clothes line Labrocca. DeRo free hits the keeper and Ibby misses a sitter. The boy has been playing a howler so far. We need some more academy action soon.
1 min of extra time
Half time mood : youth good, old bad
45 - SUB - Harden in, Nana out. Huh? Nana was having a cracker of a game.
52 - Labrocca has a go from 5 yds out to the left of net and forces a solid save from the keeper.
61 - YELLOW - actually 2, Henry I think and some other blue cheater
65 - SUB - deGoo out, Oscar Cordon in. Sure.
68 - YELLOW - Lindsey for stuff
72 - Morgan is the Toronto Patrice Evra, holding off a defender while moving the ball forward, lays it off to DeRo who shoots, ends back at Morgan and he launches it at the net from 12 yds only to be stopped by the keeper. Killer stuff.
78 - Wow. Just heady stuff. DeRo-Lindsey-Labrocca are just cutting up Arabe right now.
79 - SUB - Lindsey off for OBW. Ummm... Mr. Dasovic... whiskey tango foxtrot?
81 - YELLOW - Gargan for not putting up with the cheaters sh*t
83 - Labrocca lays a pass to Cordon and he skies the ball. Not everyone's first senior attempt at goal goes in...
88 - YELLOW - someone got booked. Labrocca? All I know is my predictions are way off there...
90 - YELLOW - Arabe for dissention
3 min of extra time
FULL TIME : Toronto 1, ArabeUnido 0
Man of the Match : Attakora for the first half, Lindsay for a quarter and Morgan for another quarter.
Goat of the Game : Fuad Ibrahim. Three words kid, "Danish Third Division". What a brutal game. With the chances he was getting, I'd rather see what OBWcould've done instead. Super frustrating.
(You should really click on the link all the same... best name ever? Perhaps)
Ref Rating : 3 out of 5. Equally terrible on both sides of the ball but let a few close ones go. Handed out cards like it was invitations to his birthday party.
I was going to tear a strip into Dasovic for his substitutions, but lets be honest folks - it really doesn't matter. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised with the efforts of some of the kids. Morgan and Lindsay have some promise. Perhaps the lack of pressure for a result in the game gave them the perfect opportunity to show us what they're capable of. And for once, I like it and am a little upset I didn't take advantage of watching more Academy games.
It's just too easy to be a pessimist right now. Nothing but bad news coming out of TFC's camp lately and we're all a little disgruntled, to be kind. I wanted something positive out of this game and I got it. Besides, April is a long ways away and there's plenty of time to bitch, piss and moan around here before then.
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.
The Yorkies are a collective of Toronto FC supporters and season ticket holders since day one. Our sole purpose is furthering our beloved club's fervent support with a movement of like-minded fans who want to speak with an independent voice. Our core belief is that supporters should always be able to voice their opinions about the state of the club free from outside influence or compromise. We will always aim to do that while having a laugh at the same time. Have opinion, have passion and support. Be a Yorkie too.
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