Where have I heard that before?

Is it me or does TFC and Chicago have the exact same songs? I'm sitting there last night thinking "geez it's the 26th minute and they're still singing Danny Dichio?!"

What a bummer that game was. It had it's moments but it seems with each passing week it becomes more and more clear that we are past the point of no return with respect to TFC developing any kind of strategy or plans. Can't teach an old dog new tricks I guess? So many things to still be positive about - just not this season! I feel bad for De Guzman right now because I'm sure this is not the ideal football he wants to be playing - what I mean by that is he's kinda been thrown into the fire and seems like there's nothing in terms of the development of a team but just trying to keep things for spiraling out of control. It doesn't seem like he's being used effectively and for the 3 million (is that the number?) he's making, for him to not be used in an impact position is such a waste. Here's to hoping this will all be addressed in the very near future.

What a night that was. Actually I had a pretty good time, despite the rain.
Jumped on the old IRO and rode over to Tim's place to watch the game with his dad and Stephe.


THE RETURN OF TV PICS!! 5 mins in - DE RO! I can't believe people rag on him. I can understand some of the criticisms but seriously, bottom line - if Frei wasn't in net and he wasn't scoring - I SHUDDER TO THINK!!



An up and down game ... BARRETT!?!?


Another highlight - FLARES. Oh man well done. Here's hoping it wasn't followed up by railings being thrown on the pitch and someone getting tazered.


2-2 draw. ugh. Well Stephe was MAD during the podcast. I think my tone calmed him down, as I wasn't as pissed because I'm actually not expecting TFC to make the playoffs so anything more than that I'm pretty happy!!

Two weeks off. A much needed break!

The leaves a changing

Ahh, from green to red. That ain't so bad. I have to admit, I am looking forward to TFC's next home game, if for the only reason of the weather. There's something about football in the fall that just seems right. Well ... it's not 'something' it's that almost everywhere else plays then so it just seems appropriate to be at a game this time of year.


Not to mention changes at RNO. Friday we posted our first interview/column by Paul James. No introduction needed, you know who he is. We met with Paul months back with a simple request out of respect for his knowledge and analysis of the game. He has graciously given us a valuable piece of his time to use for content on the site. The goal at RNO (well in it's most simple definition) is to bring exposure to this game in Canada. I think Paul has an important voice in this country on the game that brings balance and cuts to the bone.

We are working hard for the next step, which will be bananas and why I'm in this weird pattern of posting here Saturday-Monday. Where it's at now is tough enough, but it's super fun. So work - it is not.

Stay tuned!

Start fresh

Well there will be no pics of a television screen today. Thank god for that. After feeling so encouraged all week long, we have been brought back down to reality that there is a lot more going on here than just signing a quick DP to turn the season around. Anyone else getting the feeling this contract was pushed hard to deflect the fact we are likely to miss the playoffs again? Bring in the fan fave so we can all say "hmmm well Mo did bring in De Guzman ... not to mention De Ro!" forgetting the fact that this is a black & white issue - winning and losing. Not making the playoffs is losing, three strikes you're out. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, which there isn't, there is really no excuse IMO.


Once again this was the only good thing that happened tonight. Brewed in small batches? Refreshing hints of Vanilla and Oak? HELLO!! I bought this specifically for the design of the bottle. I got REAL drunk after this game to drown away my sorrows. WHAT? IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.
Note to self: clean that window sill it's disgusting!

T-Minus ...

Can not lie - this is the most exciting night for TFC in a while. I don't want to use the term "finally" with regards to quality, because I believe we have it - but there is now someone you can trust with the ball and hopefully be the engine or glue and take some of our good players to another level. Win or lose, I'm pretty happy right now because there is alot of good things to look forward to. If MLSE don't pull some Jedi mind tricks over us and pretend like there isn't a ton more work to do - specifically ... well improving everything sans keeping and midfield. IMO we should start to do this right and build this team from the back to the front. And with the middle taken care of we should be able to do it pretty quick.

Anyway just a quick pre-game post. A CRAZY busy night - Part I of the Reds has snatched 3 points on the road, now onto Part II. A decent UFC, A SOLID night of boxing with Mayweather v. Marquez, and then TFC! Life is good.

Can't Stop. Won't Stop.

A busy weekend finally over and now rolling into the usual weekdays of working 9-5 then 7-11. Is blogging considered work? I say yes. Well it is when you are wearing red plaid and have a beard. I have both. Still feeling a bit wiped from a non-stop weekend, which always feels that way when TFC play a home game.

Now that the insane schedule is over from April and May, that one game a month really stands out. And it makes it 10X more important that when I get a chance to add something to RNO it gets taken advantage of. With a completely bananas week of drama with TFC (they suck on Sunday, Dichio retires on Tuesday, Grass imminent on Thursday, De Guzman signs on Friday, and they rule again on Saturday) there was so much to talk about.



The shitty thing was that my two co-hosts for East Side Stand Up (This name IS NOT about that ridiculous chant, which they don't do on the East Side of BMO - they prefer THE WAVE) were out of town and true to form I left trying to find guests to the last second. This has happened a few times this season and I resigned to the fact that I just wouldn't do a podcast. But this time I had in the back of my mind the guys from Some Canadian Guys Talking/Writing About Soccer who I recall reading a post a while back about their podcast on hold or on hiatus so I thought, maybe they'd be up for getting a podcast in and talking shop. Well needless to say it all worked out and they brought along Ben Knight from Onward! to boot! That was pretty cool considering I think that in the first two seasons of TFC (you know, before the 'recession' ruined football coverage in the newspapers here) his and Morgan Campbell's columns were the best in the city.

When we do our podcast it's usually focused on analysis from the game in question from the three of us who all sit in the same section. Tim has a great sense of seeing the game from growing up in London following West Ham United. Stephe has played the game at a high level and still plays to this day and I'm really into Championship Manager. So together I think we can cover alot of different perspectives of what went on that day. But it was really cool to listen to Ben, Squizz and Jamie give their take on TFC - not just from where they watch at BMO but as fans of the team and in the media. You don't always get to sit in a room (well I don't) and talk like that so it was pretty sweet.

But even before that - within two weeks of my last appearance on Norman James THE HOOK I got the call again. Football was the topic of the week and this time Norman hooked (heyoooo) us up with something like 20 minutes on his show. Seriously check out his blog and see how fast this show is growing. One of the reasons we started RNO is because the media in Canada has football (especially Canadian football) as such a low priority, or 5th page news if you will. Regardless of whether or not we are on this show, it is awesome to see that someone is out there willing to give it 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes of exposure. I'm really grateful for being included in that show, but most importantly for the fact that I own the all-time guest appearance title!!

That is right - and you are right Norman, Saturday night I did drink to that!!

Math Rules!

Well we are still alive. Mathematically still in the hunt. I don't want to make it an issue of optimism or pessimism, it is what it is. TFC look horrible one week and are able to pull it out the next. It feels a bit 'too little too late'. Given our recent road form, LA is going to be tough next week and Chicago the next no easier. But yesterday there was alot to be happy about. #1 - NO RAIN = HOT GIRLS! Ok this is how the day played out:

Rolled up to the stadium, why is it that every game I tell myself I'm going to be there 30 mins early to watch the warm up and get there 5 mins before the kick off. I missed the Danny Dichio tribute (I could hear it) so that sucked.



But did get a chance to see this. I haven't dug around on the deal with Oct. 17 but this was a good start. These two ends of the pitch are what makes the games for me - except when the game is dry and it's all NEE :) HAHA



Let's kick 'er off!


DE RO!! I don't care about the criticism (yeah can you believe it) this guy is all heart and gives it 110% every game. I really think when De Guz comes, he will play so much better with someone close to him on the pitch he can trust through and through.



Ok - this is really starting to grind my gears. Look at the clock. How is it that people are thrown out of the stadium for standing and cheering on the team but it's A-OK at 20mins, 32mins, etc ... for people to continuously to walk up and down rows to buy nachos/beer/hot dogs, BLOCKING MY VIEW. Maybe if they could find a way to charge for cheering they'll let us stand up again?


Second half - oh man. 1-1. Conor Casey AGAIN. We said it on the pod, De Guz brings so much to the team except for the 2 main things we have never had - defending and goal poaching. We clearly can't defend a cross, no matter who is our CB.


67min ... Cummins makes the sub ... WHAT!? WE TAKE THE LEAD!!! OBW!!



WHAT IS THIS!? AN INSURANCE GOAL!?!? Nana!! Let's just throw this out. Attakora, Frei, Serioux, Cronin, De Ro, De Guz, Guevara, Gerba, OBW. We almost have an amazing XI.


Yes. Insurance goal. Obviously we need it because TFC almost choke big time!


A win is a win and there was good things this game.


Next week will be tough, it will be great to see De Guz stretch his legs but I'm already thinking about what it will look like if we can get our back line sorted out.
Ok that's it. Beautiful day, good result!

De Guz or not De Guz

Unless we are going to try to payback Colorado for last week's 'last minute' roster change, looks like De Guzman won't make his home debut today. But that is fine. Could it be possible that TFC aren't in it for the short term solution and are going to build a team? Or maybe Mo has waved his hand ala Obi-Wan Kanobi and in a month will say "We've done good this season. Look who we've signed. Success." Well there's not too many ways to take that as De Guzman doesn't remedy any of the team's most glaring issues (goals in and goals out) - but here's to the benefit of the doubt and the off-season!

Bottom line, of course, I am so stoked to see this guy play here week in and out. The last time he played at BMO was a dominating performance that put him undoubtedly in the class of best midfielder in CONCACAF and we could see with our own eyes why 07/08 was a year of accolades for him in La Liga. There has been chatter here an there about how he should have tried to stay there, MLS step down etc ... and as I've mentioned possibly here but definitely in conversations - this is the best move for everyone. TFC wins, Team Canada wins (yes they do) and fans win. I'll leave it at that because a colleague will elaborate on it in a few days.

Today is one thing - a tough game that will probably result in a draw and put one more nail in our chances of the post-season. But the class of the squad has just increased big time and the end of this season and the next three will be exciting to watch!