TFC in six minutes

Toronto FC won the home opener last night.. yeeehaaa... I still think this team needs a lot of work. They played sub-par football against an undermanned expansion team. They had more than an entire half were they played against 10 men. To top it off the Philly keeper is brutal. I know they won the game but they should have embarrassed a team like that. Especially after the embarrassing loss in Foxboro against the Revolution. I was truly humiliated to drive 10 hours to watch the Boston Massacre. As a fan I want redemption!

Pat Phelan

Here is a little summary of some stuff I read on the interweb today

New England picked up Pat Phelan from Toronto FC in June 2008 in exchange for an international roster spot.

Pat this season has 18 games played 11 started and 953 minutes. New England now has to lean on him a little as Shalrie Joseph is out with an injury.

"I got drafted out of Wake to Toronto and never played a game, never got a shot with the first team," said Phelan. "Fair enough, that’s what happens a lot of times if you’re a rookie, you’ve got to pay your dues. They needed the international roster spot, they needed to bolster their roster."

"When I first heard about the trade I thought they just thought I was an unhappy kid who just wanted to go home," said Phelan, (this Blogger believed that to be just the case) "which wasn’t the case at all, but it’s nice to be close to home – my parents are close, my wife’s here. I’m a local kid and think New England might have drafted me had I been available, so it worked out well for both parties. I was also playing center back there which I didn’t really want to, so I was really excited to jump at the chance to come down here and start contributing. Fortunately, I’ve been able to stay within the top 15 players."

"There’s really no way to replicate the way Shalrie plays," said Phelan, "and that's usually when I’m in there - when he’s playing forward or suspended."

"I’ve got to wear this cast till about the middle of December, three months - it’s a long time and pretty obnoxious. I ran into the boards and lost my footing on the asphalt and landed on my wrist with all my weight and broke my scaphoid, which is an area that doesn’t get a lot of blood flow which is why it takes so long to heal. Instead of opting for surgery and missing a couple weeks I’m just going to wait it out in a cast."

It's nice to see Pat did not have anything negative to say about Toronto and he is doing well in the MLS for a second year player. His success says something about our scouting but not a whole lot about our General Manager.

TFC manages to Draw New England

In Foxborough last night TFC squeaked out a draw. DeRosario gave the team the lead in the 34 minute of the game netting his 8^th MLS goal of the season. Chad Barrett was sent off the pitch with his second yellow card in the 50^th minute of the game leaving TFC a man short for the rest of the game. The Gambian kids were subbed on in the 2^nd half and I got to say... wow I was impressed. I take back all the bad things I have ever said about them. Can’t wait to see them play more. Looks like Serioux will be out on Tuesday vs PRI he looked like he re-aggravated his injury. Also DeRo looked like he may have suffered an injury against the revs as well. What’s the deal in New England the stadium looked empty! Well it’s the long weekend so im not going to write much more.

Thought maybe I would comment on Arsenal briefly. Arshavin had one of the nicest goals I have ever watched against Athletico Madrid. This morning Arsenal vs. Rangers. Andrei continues to impress and Wilshere (the kid) looks like he could be a starter for the team… or maybe that’s just pre-season play getting the best of me. J

TFC vs. New England Revolution... tonight

Today is an almost soccer filled day for me as I am watching Arsenal play Athletico Madrid for the Emirates cup (on GOL TV) this morning. Tonight TFC faces off against the New England Revolution (the Rev’s). I am almost at a lose for words when it comes to TFC now. Do I want them to put out there best line-up tonight. YES. But will that mean we are going to get ousted from Champions league on Tuesday against PRI? I hope not. It would be nice if our man MO would give us some depth that we desperately need. If Amado is not at 100% I do not think we have a chance in either game. It clearly looks to me that Serioux is Seriouxly injured right now and probably needs a bit of a break. He looks a little ginger walking on and off the field before and after games.

Chris Cummins commented on the game tonight “I don’t think it’s a must-win, but I do think it’s a game that we can’t lose, just to keep that distance between us, By all means we’d love to go there and get the three points but if we go there and get a point, we can build on that. What we can’t do is go in there gung-ho, and go all-out attacking and lose the game. It’s important we come away with something — even if it’s a point, it gives us a bit of confidence going into the next game.”

I’d say every game is crucial especially when there is no sign of any help on the way to the team. They are looking pretty desperate right now. With a game tonight against the REV’s, then Tuesday against PRI, then Friday against Real Madrid, and just coming off the midweek lose to PRI. Can’t wait to see Ibrahim back in the line-up at least he shows promise.

Canadian soccer needs a boost

Nigel Reed wrote a nice Blog post yesterday bringing back memories of the 93 Maple Leafs and 92,93 Blue Jays. Back in the days when "Toronto" was a bad word but people across the country were able to get behind the team. He believes that All Canadians should get behind TFC in there Concacaf Campaign. you can check out the blog HERE!

This Blog gives fans more reason to get behind the country.. Looking forward to the weekend when TFC will face the REVs in New England Pat Decola writes on his Blog the following " Why Canada was even given a soccer team, I don’t think I’ll ever understand. Regardless, it’s a big match. " you can read the blog here but its really not worth it.