BeautifulFC on August 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am #
I don’t care about the pitch. I want a play-off spot.

Fair enough. I care about both. Call me crazy, but I think one will help us in the long run, the other in the short. But again, I might be crazy. You tell me.

sergio fuentes on August 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 am #
Ruiz is the best congratulation this make magic gol in la also i texas if you give time you will who is the fich hes leader in la every body wane to be lider thats what the time is nat doing good god lloock fich we going to mis you amado fich togueder what choo fich fich the big red
…and
sergio fuentes on August 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 am #
el fich es el mejor goleador de la liga por envidia e ignorancia del tecnico no triunfo pero el fich nesecita minutos tiempo de juego y ustedes veran un gran goleador frio con clase fue lider en texas y en L A suerte fich dios te ayude

God help us, indeed. I hope for the best from this signing and I’m happy to see someone write me positively (remember, I’m all about the positive at this point..)
The little fish could flop…….alright, actually, enough of this fish talk. Ruiz could be a great signing or he could be another Lauren (sic) Robert. But really, if he’s good for more than two games, I’ll be happy. The rest of the season, I’ll be ecstatic considering we gave up NOTHING for him. Long term, I’m not sure he’s the answer. Love to be wrong though. I’d absolutely LOVE it.

bobby on August 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pm #
Great,we’re a development league,that won’t sell long term in Toronto
Welcome to the MLS. Not trying to be dismissive, really, but Welcome to the MLS.
(And it will sell, so long as we’re competitive in the “development league.” Some of the greatest support in the world of football comes from supporters of teams that have achieved very little. Adjust your expectations. Don’t expect Manchester United, but look forward to upsets and playoff births, and you’ll be happier.)

Mike | Toronto Unplugged on August 14th, 2008 at 7:57 pm #
Fingers crossed we get some news in the morning. We need a signing…
I’ll check back and hopefully you’ve shed your writers block…or it has been shed for you.
Cheers.

It’s tough doing this blog with a full time job that’s eating up more and more of my time. But I’ll do my best to keep bringing news and rumours as they cross my path. Especially when the people in the know that feed me don’t know anything worth posting (not because they’re out of the loop but because there’s really not much going on that you won’t fin in the papers.)

Such is the nature of this team.

Two things I like to write about: wins and player movement. I’d prefer to write about wins, however, but if those are few and far between, I might as well write about the rumours. Like that MLSE is looking into buying the Medieval Times property for a Soccer Specific training facility. But you didn’t hear it here, ’cause I wasn’t suppose to mention it……..shh

Fish or shark? Will Ruiz show a killer instinct or flop and flop around the pitch?

Chad Barett. .5 gpg strike rate. Will he keep it up?

Formation. 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. Which do you prefer?

Anyone have any other questions? Answers? Post ‘em below.

Admittedly, naming a new, grass playing pitch at BMO Field for the player whose transfer funds may very well have made it a short-term reality, is not my idea. Definitely stole it from Morgan Campbell. But, I’m fully in favour of it.

I said it before, and it seems like everyone is saying it now, the Field Turf (as good as it is at being fake grass) is definitely a concern for all players.

We have ourselves a little team in a little league. We’re incredibly passionate about it and expect a lot. But the reality is that we’re also in a league in which we see players in only two of three phases of their careers - beginning and end, but not middle (i.e. peak.)

Such being the case, our playing suface being a concern will hamper our ability to both retain players and to sign new ones. Young players will need to be convinced to stay with the club - and if they waiver it won’t help that they don’t like the pitch. Older players, perhaps past their peak but not yet fully in decline, won’t want to play on a field which may further any knee or hip injuries due to the wear of a professional creer.

I’m aware of the politics involved with fulfilling a promise to the city for a year-round playing surface. Whether that means building a practice facility or renovating Lamport (which I personally prefer) is less of a concern to me than getting it done. For a second year franchise fan, I’m feeling just a little impatient but only because the flaw of FT was avoidable and can be rectified if the organization is willing to make a long-term investment.

Long story short, Field Turf, whether or not truly as bad as reported, is making our organization look amateurish. It’s gotta go so that the cycle of growth-export new-import old can work its magic for years to come.

But seriously, it’s gotta go.

…Amazing. Good riddance you apathetic waste of money. The ONLY reason that I haven’t written a post in the past two months about just how much watching Robert play makes me angry is because I felt as though the general sentiment surrounding the team was already getting too low. BUT, this is undoubtedly a great move. Sure, Lauren (sic) may have had a goal left in him, but if anyone was paying attention to how he played in the MLS, he’ll never get the chance to show it.

Now, on to other developments. Maurice, who I hope will stay my Facebook friend when (if) he becomes a superstar, has officially signed with Rangers and (pending a work permit) will be joining his new squad after International duties. If you’re counting, that’s two starting midfielders down in a week…not awesome.

But, Johann Smith’s debut was about the only thing that I appreciated in the 2-0 defeat to NYRB. (Horrible, horrible, game that was only spared, again, because I’m sick of writing negative.) His pace is incredible and I LOVE the Ronaldo-but-slightly-less-effective-well-maybe-a-lot-less-effective-esque step-overs. Can’t wait to see how he follows it up at home.

The thought, the way I understand it, is to have him assume Lauren’s role on the wing. And, continuing with the counting, along with Ricketts, that makes two wingers that will at least be trying to create offense and have great pace….which is more awesome than not, if I’m honest.

Finally, Soccer by Ives is reporting that Carlos Ruiz is on his way to Toronto from the LA Galaxy. Two potential positiives:

The deal could turn out to be a steal for Toronto FC, which acquires an established goal scorer for what sources are calling a bargain price. TFC will now boast a forward stable that includes Ruiz, Danny Dichio, Chad Barrett and teen standout Abdus Ibrahim.

TFC will also be hoping that Ruiz and close friend Amado Guevara can find some magic together as both players have stated a desire to play together in the past.

Hoping for the best with this one! Either way, Cunningham and Robert are gone, and now I can officially say I like everyone on the team again!

Even you Marco Velez, you little try-hard.

Well, this is certainly not ideal for a team that desperately needs to bring quality players IN.
Soccer By Ives is reporting that the MLS has accepted a $5 million bid for Maurice Edu from Rangers. So, let’s all wish Mo the best, but understand that with just hours left in the transfer window, we’ve lost another talented players and are worse off than we started the day.

Hopefully, something comes of this money sooner rather than later. MJ is certainly gathering quite the stockpile of cash lately….

…I’m just so excited for the impending transfers of a quality scoring threat and perhaps even a solid centre-half that I can’t think. They’re coming, right Mo? I’ll wait until after the transfer window closes tomorrow night to express my joy at your signings.

(Seems like everyone else must have writer’s block too, as there hasn’t been any updates on the TFC roster situation all week from the Globe, the Score, or the Star.)

…what you could get for the fastest guy you knew in high school in an MLS trade?
Apparently, the answer is a 3rd round draft pick. Assuming, of course, the fastest guy you knew in high school had zero finish around the net.

Jeff Cunningham, the above-average-paced-but-recently-completely-ineffective-at-anything-but-running Striker, has been traded to FC Dallas for a third round pick and a promise that they’ll pay his remaining salary.

Thank god. It’s over, folks.

This and this make me feel a little better today.

Now, where’s that new signing, Momo???

Here’s a post from Ben Knight’s On Soccer Blog and the Globe.com

He’s quite right that the poor officiating isn’t malicious (which would obviously be a lot worse and give some credibility to the “Refs want to stick it to TFC” argument.) The league has merely failed to mature in the area of officiating. They can’t, and aren’t, keeping up.

….joke. But I don’t want to rant about how much the refs in this league suck. I don’t want to rant about the ineffectual offense. I REALLY don’t want to talk about how the last thing we had pride in this season, and unbeaten home record, no is no longer there.

Yup, things are pretty dark in TFC Land right now. Maybe what we need is a change of perspective.

I don’t want to say that our expectations should be adjusted (i.e. lowered) or that the focus shouldn’t be on wins and losses, but we need to find something that’s positive.

So, with that in mind, what are some things that we should be paying more attention to - something to cheer about?

• um…
• uh……
• crap

I’m going to go back to my “Hey, I’m just pumped we have a team to go see and cheer for, win or lose.”

How are the rest of you coping? Let me know…