Disney!! yah and signed midfielder Jacob Peterson

I'm pumped looks like TFC are going to Disney this year. I was just reading on the MLS website. I'm saving my pennies! hopefully they do it again next season. I drove past this complex about 4 years ago and it looked pretty desolate. its nice to see they are finally putting it to use! woo hoo soccer.

The Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC will get an early taste of MLS competition when the four clubs compete in the inaugural Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The tournament, which kicks off the re-launch of the complex and is part of the 2010 ESPN The Weekend, begins on Thursday, Feb. 25, with the Dynamo taking on the Red Bulls at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a clash between Dallas and Toronto at 8:30 p.m. ET. The winners will meet in the championship game on Saturday, Feb. 27, with the losers of the opening matches meeting in a third-place game earlier in the day.

ALSO today TFC have announced the signing of a midfielder. Not sure they need another midfielder... UNLESS Mo is planning a trade. Who is he thinking of getting rid of? Anyways pur new midfielder is Jacob Peterson he was drafted a few seasons ago and has started to make an impact in the MLS last season before being struck down by the injury bug. I read most of this on the CBC website.

Toronto FC signed midfielder Jacob Peterson from the Colorado Rapids on Thursday, the team announced in a release.

Peterson, 23, was Colorado's first-round draft pick in 2006. He broke through in 2009 when he appeared in 23 games for the club, making 12 starts and tallying two goals and two assists. He missed the last month of the '09 campaign because of injury.

MLS strike...Ibrahim Saied...and some NikeSoccer Juve commercial.

No word on the MLS labor dispute yet. Makes me kinda angry that TFC has not sent me any updates. As a season ticket holder I feel I have the right to know what the F is going on. I want to plan a road trip this year and can't make any decisions on hotels or flights cause I don't want to pay if there is going to be no game!! ARGH!

Some Dude named Ibrahim Saied an Egyptian central defender is set to join Toronto FC this season. I read a little blurb on IMscouting.com He needs to pass a physical still. Once upon a time he played for Everton. I guess that means he is shit and is trying to revive his dead career. I really hope he is good. I want a reason to cheer for the team!

Also I watched the Nikesoccer presents master accuracy video on youtube this morning. Not much to it other than I would like TFC to send all our strikers to the thing. We need accuracy man!

Nils Binstock is getting a shot to be a hometown Red

Nils Binstock is some local dude keeping his fingers crossed that TFC keeps 3 roster spots open for keepers this season. I love TFC adding Local or Canadian players to the team and I hope this kid makes it. If he does make it he better not be shit!! That will just piss me off.

Here is the article from the Toronto Sun..

Nils Binstock is getting a shot to be a hometown Red.

The Burlington netminder just got an invite to Toronto FC's goalkeeping combine, where he will try to win at least a spot on the training-camp roster. The combine goes Jan. 25-26 at Lamport Stadium.

"I received an e-mail from (TFC goalkeeping coach) Mike Toshack and he invited me out," Binstock said.

"The team had been following my progress for the past couple of years ... I don't know any of the other four or five 'keepers who will be invited out, but I think they could offer a contract to the best one."

And Binstock has given Toshack a lot to think about. In his final NCAA season at Iona College, he posted a stellar 0.66 GAA and a superb .849 GAA.

The combine will run before the scheduled opening of TFC's regular training camp and the Jan. 31 expiry of the current collective bargaining agreement between MLS and its players'union.

If there is no progress in talks, the owners are in position to lock out the players on Feb. 1.

STRONG AT GOAL

Even though TFC is stronger in goal than it is at any other position, with rookie-of-the-year Stefan Frei at No. 1 and Brian Edwards at backup, Binstock is hopeful that the Reds will keep three 'keepers in 2010. Once again, without a CBA in place, it's hard to guess what kind of roster limits will exist in 2010.

"I think they are going to be carrying three," Binstock said. "Last year, they ran into problems when Frei got hurt and Edwards had to jump in, and there was no back-up there. I know that D.C. United had a situation where both keepers were out and they needed an emergency replacement."

But, even if Binstock doesn't stick, the former Toronto Lynx and AB Copenhagen 'keeper knows getting this tryout will help him to get more trials at other clubs.

"I think it's a definite positive; it's a trial in a pro atmosphere," he said. "It still looks good on a resume. Toronto FC is my hometown team. If things don't work out, I want them to succeed, regardless."

Toronto FC home opener moved to April 15

BLAH BLAH BLAH... This story seems to be everywhere right now.

Here it is from the Toronto Star

Toronto FC is going to get a little southern exposure on its new grass field.

The Major League Soccer club announced Wednesday that the team's home-opener in mid-April is being moved from Saturday afternoon to Thursday night in order to accommodate a national broadcast in the United States on ESPN2.

TFC will now play the expansion Philadelphia Union at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 15.

The game will be the official debut of the grass pitch at BMO Field.

Club owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is now in the midst of a $3.5 million conversion of the city-owned stadium from artificial Field Turf to Kentucky bluegrass.

The new field, complete with its elaborate drainage and heating system, is to be ready for the home opener.

TFC is scheduled to kick off its fourth MLS season Saturday, March 27 in Columbus, Ohio against the Crew.

But with the contract between the league and its players union set to expire on Jan. 31, there are questions whether the season will be marred by a strike or lockout.

Both sides are refusing to talk publicly but reports are that the negotiations are not going well despite months of talks and the league may lock out the players Feb. 1.

TFC going Teal?

Well the MLS superdraft is coming up soon. As usual I do not know who any of the college players are that are entering the draft. EXCEPT Teal Bunbury!! He is the the son of former Canadian International Alex Bunbury. I am hoping TFC try to move up the draftand get him. It would be nice to have another strong Canadian player on the team.

There was an article in the Toronto Sun a few days ago. Here is most of it.

What will he do this time?

Toronto FC director of soccer Mo Johnston is known as a mover and shaker in Major League Soccer circles, always good to make a deal.

And Thursday's MLS SuperDraft should be no different, despite TFC not having a first-round draft pick and having only two picks in the draft (Nos. 24 and 53).

"I've actually been very quiet so far," Johnston said.

The silence won't last long.

"I'm confident we'll be able to get some things done over the next six or seven days," he said. "This year it's all about getting the right guy and the priority is to move up in the draft."

Johnston's job is that much more difficult, not having any American roster spots available. And using an international roster spot on an American drafted college player doesn't make sense for the club.

EXPECT MOVES

Translation: Expect some player movement from Johnston.

Johnston also acknowledged he's in on-going talks with various clubs and players, and now that the MLS player combine is over, the real action begins.

What Johnston will be able to get done is unclear.

While he acknowledges this year's draft is about "certain positions", it's more about asset management. Moving up to take a player of interest for another team, then turning that player into another asset coming back to the club seems like the most logical move.

And from the sounds of it, this is what new head coach Preki Radosavljevic would prefer.

Preki seems less than impressed with the roster. He admits the team is a work in progress. But unlike his former club Chivas, TFC ownership has afforded Johnston ample resources to bring in players.

"Preki has got his eye on a couple of targets he wanted while at Chivas and wasn't able to bring in. We've talked about it and I think I can get something done," Johnston said.

This approach benefits Preki in putting together a team in his own mold while adding some much-needed MLS experience to the roster.

If Johnston elects to move up in the draft and to keep the pick, it could also signal his interest in Teal Bunbury -- this year's Mac Hermann Trophy winner as the NCAA'S top player.

Bunbury's name resonates with Canadian soccer fans, as the son of former Canadian International Alex. Bunbury proved his worth as a dynamic goal-scorer this past season, leading his Akron Zips to an undefeated regular season and then taking them all the way to the national final. His Canadian designation doesn't hurt either.

"He's a good, young player.He's 6-foot-2, strong, fairly quick and I played with his father." Johnston said.

If Johnston can bring in Bunbury, TFC would have two of the past three Mac Hermann Trophy winners on their roster. Forward O'Brien White was the 2007 recipient. The Canadian connections to both White and Bunbury could make for an intriguing striker combination for years to come.

Last year, Johnston landed all three of his major targets. Instead of trading away any of his three first-round picks, Johnson did the unusual for him, staying status quo, selecting midfielder Sam Cronin (second), White (fourth) and goalkeeper Stefan Frei (13th), all of whom had varying levels of success in their respective rookie campaigns.

In fact, TFC has considerable young talent. Defender Nana Attakora (20), and to a lesser extent young Gambian duo of Amadou Sanyang (18) and Emmanuel Gomez (19), are reason to believe better days lie ahead for the Reds.

The pressure is on for Johnston to get it right this off-season right. While Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. is resolutely standing by its man, the public knives have been out for Johnston for quite some time, after three subpar years under his watchful eye.

"The entire process is a game and in the end it all funnels through. We've got a game-plan. "

Ilia Javorijan.. who is he?

I know this is very boring news but not much of anything exciting is happening right now. Unless you want to hear about how I am doing in FIFA10 on my DS. I think the people at EA sports screwed up when they added Vitti to the game cause the man is on fire in my game. Nothing like the real player. anyways..

Today I read on the IMscouting website that this fella Ilia Javorijan is headed for Toronto for a Trial with TFC. It seems he is over paid and no good so his current team Maccabi Tel Aviv wants to get rid of him. I can only assume that Mo Johnston see's the resemblance to Danny Dichio and has decided he would be a good replacement for the big bald man. I don't think Mo has taken into consideration that Ilia's name is probably not song friendly.

If you want to check out the article it is at the IMscouting site. Here is a clip of the story

MLS side Toronto FC have handed a 10-day trial to Armenian striker Ilia Javorijan , starting from February 8th.

The 28-year-old target man has been plying his trade in Israel since 2004, and this season he has been a major disappointment for Maccabi Tel Aviv despite scoring 4 goals in 10 league appearances.

According to reports in Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv are trying to get rid of the striker who doesn't wish to play for other sides in the country and prefers a move abroad.

Javorijan has been playing for Israeli sides Hapoel Petach Tikva, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Irony Kiriat Shmona and Bnei Sachnin before moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer of 2008 for $515k. His contract runs out in the coming summer.

Nutrilite a GO

Looks like the Nutrilite Championship is still a go. I didn't realize it was in limbo. Shows how much I know. That whole mess with the USL and NASL is just so un-interesting. You can read about it at the Toronto Sun today. Here is a snippet.

Toronto FC will get the chance to defend its Nutrilite Canadian Championship crown in 2010, even if the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps have no leagues of their own in which to play.

The Canadian Soccer Association confirmed this week that the three-team championship still is slated to go ahead as it has the past two seasons, despite rumours to the contrary.

The CSA made the decision to sanction Montreal and Vancouver in December, meaning that they still can compete for a national championship.

Both Montreal and Vancouver are in limbo as the United States Soccer Federation refused to sanction the North American Soccer League, a new circuit formed by rebel owners from the United Soccer Leagues. The USL's first division also was rejected. The leagues have until some time this week to strike an 11th-hour kiss-and-makeup deal that would satisfy the U.S. authorities.

Sam in Kenya..

Still not much going on.. I stumbled across this article on the Winston Salem Journal. It features our very own Sam Cronin! He spent 18 days in Kenya working at two orphanages.

Sam Cronin and his girlfriend, Samantha Holt, had an African experience they're unlikely to forget.

They spent 18 days in Kenya earlier this month, working at two orphanages through the Amani Children's Foundation. They said that the time was rewarding, even though some of their things were stolen near the end of their stay and they had stomach problems from some of the food.

"It was great to see how another culture lives and what those kids are up against," said Cronin, who played soccer at Mount Tabor High School and Wake Forest, and recently completed his rookie season with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer. "It gives you some perspective that you don't have because you take for granted how we were raised and how lucky we have it."

The two returned last week in time for Christmas, but they talk as if they already have received plenty of gifts.

MERRY X-MAS!!!

I don't have much today. After all it is Christmas Eve. This is kinda neat 2 you tube videos with blindfolded players playing keep up. Theo Walcott is awesome!!




This Next one is behind the scenes.


Also found this Castrol add with Cristiano.. LOL



and last but not least.. A Theo Add.. I could surf you tube all day looking for these things.. :)

Is there something wrong with the bladders of goalkeepers these days?

What is Auckland City stopper Paul Gothard doing here? Praying nope, planning nope... Pissing his pants in the middle of a match YES!! WTF? Like fellow goalkeeper Jens Lehmann only a few weeks ago Gothard went for a leak during the game! At least Jens had a little more class. I wouldn't have said that at the time but when you way the options pissing yourself or peeing behind a billboard... I think the billboard seems like a better plan. What are these jokers doing before games? come on. This Gothard kid has the creepiest peeing his pants grin on while he pulls his pud. eeek

A few more tweaks.

The TFC front office is starting to warm up for the holidays. Earlier in the week TFC named Leo Percovich the team's new assistant coach Monday. Percovich spent last season as goalkeeper coach with Chivas USA. Big deal SNORE!!!!

Exciting news from the office has Amado Guevara leaving the team According to several reports, Guevara has signed with Honduran club Motagua. Also on the way out are Pablo Vitti and Lesly Felinga.

Pablo Vitti really did not amount to much while he was here. I had high expectations of him but really I don't know if it was the lack of playing time. Maybe he is just shit. ya I think he is just shitty.

Lesly Fellinga, well I really think that this guy did not get a chance to play and it is unfortunate because the time he did play I found that he was very effective. He probably just was not in Preki's plans for the new season. I would imagine Fellinga will land a job somewhere soon.

Amado leaving is good.. I would rather that he left before the season started rather then waiting for the season to begin and find out that there is trouble in the dressing room. My take on it is straighten that shit out before you start the season. Get rid of the poison.

Amado did his job well when he was here. We didn't make the playoffs with him so no biggie getting rid of him and lets continue the building process. I want to watch a winner this season. Not a dirty bunch of losers! Buh Bye AMADO!!! See Ya Vitti.. (your shit) Felinga... I feel like we never really got to know you.. sniff... sniff..

Robo I think you next!

Paul Winsper is leaving TFC

Not surprised here. Paul Winsper leaves TFC. It is like a mass exodus over there, Carver, Cummins, Winsper. MLSE needs to find the right people to do the job and get it done. Freaking Seattle did better than us this year and they are in their first season. What the F! Find a trainer I don't care what his name is, frankly I think there was to much hype over Winsper in the first place. No offense to him but a team that can't make the playoffs can not possibly have the greatest trainer? right?

Anyways here is what i found.

Fitness guru Paul Winsper is leaving his job as strength and conditioning coach of Toronto FC for a new position with Nike, the Englishman confirmed to CBCSports.ca on Friday.

Winsper, who is under contract to the MLS club until Dec. 31, said he and his family will be moving in January to Oregon, where he will serve as sports performance director for Nike.

Nike's world headquarters are in Beaverton.

Winsper, 43, said Toronto FC offered him a two-year contract extension, but the job offer from Nike that they first made to him in the summer was just too good to pass up.

"It's an unbelievable job offer that I can't really turn down. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for me," Winsper told CBCSports.ca.

You can READ MORE...

Montreal in the MLS?

Doesn't it feel like every few months they are announcing a new team to the MLS? I kinda have been ignoring the stories about Montreal being the next team in but I don't have a lot to post so here it goes..

Montreal Impact are poised to become Major League Soccer's 19th team.

MLS commissioner Don Garber held meetings with the club’s president Joey Saputo, Quebec Minister of Finance Raymond Bachand and Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay to discuss the Impact joining the league.

"We are very happy with the visit of the MLS executives in Montreal,” Saputo said in a statement.

He said the meetings on Wednesday with Minister Bachand and Mayor Tremblay were “very positive”. “It's clear for us, and now more than ever, that the arrival of MLS in Montreal is only a question of time. We are hoping to have news in the first quarter of 2010.”

thats from World football insider and can probably be found all over the place cause the story is all over the place including here. now.

Oh Lehmann... you funny guy

I don't know what the heck happened here but if you find an english version of this clip I would love to hear what the commentators have to say about this.

There is an article about it at goal.com

"Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has remained tight-lipped over the much-publicised moment in which he appeared to take a comfort break during his side’s midweek Champions League encounter against Unirea Urziceni." READ MORE...

Keane linked to Celtic!!

It would probably be better news if he was linked to Toronto but I was born a Celtic fan so this news is just as exciting. If it could actually happen. My guess is it is purely speculation and nasty gossip to get guys like me excited. :)

"Keane, who returned to White Hart Lane after a difficult spell at Liverpool has seen Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch move ahead of him in the striking pecking order at Tottenham and could be open to a move where he would be instantly taken to heart due to his Irish international credentials. "

Read More..

TFC what went wrong?

Not much going on yet today. Interesting article on goal.com if you have time to waste. Evidently I have a lot of time on my hands. eek.

Toronto, Canada-- A spectacular 5-0 capitulation at the hands of bottom club New York Red Bulls in a game that could have cemented a place in the playoffs for Toronto turned out to be the last act of departing coach Chris Cummins in an official capacity. Real Salt Lake took the last playoff spot instead, going on to win the MLS cup and underscoring the pain of what could have been for the TFC faithful. Despite the disappointment of providing Dwayne De Rosario his first season bereft of a playoff spot, Toronto FC managed to win their first silverware in the shape of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship by steamrolling the Montreal Impact 6-1 away. However, TFC failed to make the main draw for the CONCACAF Champions League as the Puerto Rico Islanders upended them in a tight qualifier.

Read on...

Toronto looking at adding another striker!

argh... This news is a little dis-heartening (is that even a word). We need guys in the back field!!
anyways I don't know how accurate this story is but it looks like TFC is looking at signing Kevin Kyle the captain of Kilmarnock. He is coming off a big season scoring 12 goals in 22 appearances. Big woop dee doo!!(now I know that is a word) I want to see the Reds look after the backfield and start making roster moves to remove the dead weight we already have.

Here is some of the story I got from News Of The World

The 28-year-old Scotland hitman is in the final six months of his contract and that has alerted Johnston who sees the giant striker as the perfect man to lead Toronto's front line.

Kyle is Killie's best paid player on £2,000 a week, but he could double that wage if the former Sunderland and Coventry hitman opts to move to Canada with Johnston able to offer him a £200,000-a- year deal.

Losing Kyle would be a massive blow to Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies, who pulled off a masterstroke by persuading him to sign an 18-month deal at Rugby Park last January. Jefferies received an instant pay-off as Kyle scored the goals to keep cash-strapped Killie in the SPL.

French winger Laurent Robert is hoping to secure a return to Newcastle United.

What the hell happened to this guy? Last I heard he had signed a two year deal with Greek side Larissa. Then all of a sudden I read an article on Sky Sports that says he is trying to work his way back to Newcastle. That is nuts!! He scored one goal for Toronto and 0 goals for Larissa. PSG wont even sign him if he plays for free! He tried to get a contract with PSG playing for FREE!!! and they said NO. Why would Newcastle want him?. NUTS

"He has now set his heart on a switch to Championship leaders Newcastle, and has persuaded Magpies new-boy Fabrice Pancrate to pass his details on to manager Chris Hughton."

Adidas unveiled its World Cup match ball!!

It is getting close to World cup time. Even though Ireland will not be in it due to Henry's big hands. I am excited about the tourney. Not sure who I will cheer for yet but I am pretty sure I will cheer for any team that is playing France. The unveiling of a new ball is always a little bit fun and interesting. How many different things can you really change in a ball? It seems every world cup there are new advancements with balls. Well here are some excerpts taken from the Toronto Sun and The New York Times about the ball.

The Jabulani (which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu) is the 11th World Cup ball Adidas has designed — and according to product line manager Chris Niall, the early feedback is positive.

“The players like it,” said Niall. “(It has been tested) in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, and some of the MLS teams have been given the ball in advance, and it is well approved by the players.”

Former Toronto FC star Danny Dichio said ball technology has come a long way since he first broke in with Queens Park Rangers in England in the early 1990s.

“When I first started, we were using medicine balls, it was that long ago,” said the 35-year-old Dichio, who retired in September. “But you can see significant changes in the ball even over the past few World Cups.

“Now you come in with a ball like this ... compared to when I first started playing, it’s night and day.”

Dichio realizes that some people might wonder why Adidas bothers to tinker with the ball so much. But he says world-class athletes deserve a world-class ball.

“Without (a good ball), the game is nothing,” said Dichio. “The puck never changes in hockey, but (in soccer) the ball is everything. I’ve been in games before where a referee changed the ball three times because people were complaining about it.

Strange Soccer Goal

Beauty... something to keep in mind. Never stop playing until the whistle blows. Or you will blow. the play... doh.