Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: DC United at Waking the Red

    Two posts in the Know Your Enemy series, previewing Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and DC United at RFK Stadium, are up over at Waking the Red.

    The first looks at their lineup and form, while the second reviews game film and highlights some points of interest.

    Check them out – Part One & Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News. Portland nabs the goal of the round, while Russell Teibert, Kyle Porter, and Will Johnson earn the top three spots in the Canadian rundown.

    Check the out – MLS Review & CanCon.

Are Late Allowances Solely a TFC problem?

    Having looked at the nine goals Toronto FC has allowed in the final quarter of an hour, if only superficially, yesterday – further investigation is definitely warranted, perhaps there will be time next week – today the question is whether this is a TFC problem alone or an affliction of MLS?

Toronto FC's Late Goals - Torturous Viewing and Time for a Change

    Toronto FC has conceded nineteen goals this season, nine of which have come in the final fifteen minutes of matches.

    Here are all nine of those late goals: not recommended viewing for those with weak constitutions.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual pair of posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News – the MLS Review and Canadian Content.

    Check them out – Review; CanCon.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Philadelphia Union – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of this weekend’s match between Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union at BMO Field on Saturday is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual pair of posts went up at Canadian Soccer News early this week, reviewing the weekend that was in MLS and digging a little deeper into the Canadian performances contained therein.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Extended CanCon.

POV-FS Out Loud – The Canadian National Team Squad on Anthony Totera’s Red Card

    Anthony was kind enough to have me back on the show last Friday to discuss the inexperienced squad called in for this evening’s friendly against Costa Rica in Edmonton.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New England Revolution Series at Waking the Red

    A pair of posts previewing Toronto FC’s upcoming match at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution on Saturday is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and recent form; Part Two reviews game film for strengths and weaknesses.

POV-FS Mail It in Friday Video – Herbert Zimmerman & the Miracle of Berne

I’ve been reading up on my German fussball history of late – timely, given this weekend’s big all-German encounter in the UEFA Champions League Final - and so this week’s random video clip is a moment of lore from the Miracle of Berne, Germany’s first World Cup victory back in 1954 against Ferenc Puskas's Mighty Magyars; a goal call to be more precise.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The pair of weekly posts looking back at the past weekend in MLS went up earlier this week at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first, a general review of the matches and the second looking an in-depth look at the Canadian players who took to the pitch, with Kyle Porter and Will Johnson – the goal-scorers, earning special recognition.

    Check them out – Review and CanCon

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Columbus Crew at Waking the Red

    The first two installments of the Know Your Enemy preview series, focusing on Toronto FC’s upcoming opponent, Columbus Crew, who come to BMO Field on Saturday afternoon, are up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and form.

    Part Two goes over game film for strengths and weaknesses, pertaining to goals for and against, as well as a few points of interest.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 11 and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    A pair of posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News, the weekly review of MLS action and the special, in depth, Canadian section; a particular long one this week.

    Check them out – Review and CanCon.

POV-FS Out Loud – Anthony Totera’s Red Card on NextSportStar.com

    I’ve been fortunate enough to be a guest on Mr. Totera’s show, Red Card, on the NextSportStar network twice over the past week or so, talking Toronto FC, Voyageurs Cup, Montreal Impact, and Canadians in MLS.

    The archived show from last Wednesday - May 1st - can be found here: live from Stade Saputo – completely unaware of what was about to unfold – to talk Voyageur’s Cup, Montreal’s priorities, and Canadians throughout the league.

    And yesterday - May 9th - here: attempting to dissect what ails TFC.

    Give them a listen and be sure to tune in live each week day at 7 pm when Anthony talks to the great and the good of the local, national, and wider soccer scenes.

    Get involved by calling the phone lines, toll free, at: 1(888)999-5880 and follow Anthony and the network on twitter for updates on upcoming guests.

    If I’m not mistaken tonight’s show will discuss grassroots soccer, don’t miss it.

POV-FS Mail It in Friday Video – Alexi Lalas on Fantasy Football League’s Phoenix from the Flames

    Reviving a lost feature – our dive into the glory that is YouTube for random clips from the footballing world.

    As I drifted off to sleep late last night, watching some old Fantasy Footbal League, I stumbled across this gem – Alexi Lalas recreating his goal against England from 9 June, 1993; the US went on to win the match 2-0.

   It was the USA Cup, a now-defunct invitational tournament hosted by the USSF (United States Soccer Federation).   

    The hair, the goatee, brings me back to USA'94; a pivotal moment in my football fandom. Enjoy.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The second installment of a new weekly feature, recapping the weekend that was for the Canadians in MLS is up over Canadian Soccer News.

    Will Johnson, Nana Attakora, and Russell Teibert take top honours this week.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: San Jose Earthquakes at Waking the Red

    A pair of posts previewing – alliteration, eh? – Toronto FC's match against the San Jose Earthquakes tonight at Buck Shaw Stadium are up over at Waking the Red.

    Check them out – Part One and Part Two.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 10 at Canadian Soccer News

    Review of this weekend’s MLS action is up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Colorado Rapids – Parts One & Two

    Preview of this evening’s match between Toronto FC and Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and form, while Part Two goes over game-film in search of strengths and weaknesses.

    Check them out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review: Round 9 and Canadian Content: How Did Our Canadians Do in MLS This Week are up over at Canadian Soccer News

    A pair of MLS posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News, the MLS weekend review and the extended subsection following the play of the Canadians in the league.

    Check them out – MLS Review and Canadian Content.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New York Red Bull – Parts One & Two

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and New York is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check them out – One & Two

Beyond POV-FS – Voyageur’s Cup: Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact – Pre-Match Notes at Waking the Red

    Some assorted notes, videos, and links previewing tonight’s match between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red, in lieu of the usual Know Your Enemy feature.

    Check it out.

Toronto FC – The Voyageur's Cup: Another Chance to Injure the Opponent’s Centre-Back

    On the eve of the 2013 edition of the Voyageur’s Cup, it seemed a good time to bring up a peculiar development over the first two MLS clashes between the Canadian clubs.

    Toronto FC has been responsible for key personnel losses to their opposition.

    In the opening match against Vancouver, it was Jay DeMerit who went down a mere eight minutes into the contest with an Achilles injury. In Montreal, it was Alessandro Nesta who left the fray, lasting slightly long, after eleven minutes with a muscle concern.

    Neither injury was the result of dangerous or overly-aggressive play, DeMerit went up for an aerial challenge with Robert Earnshaw, landing awkwardly and rupturing the tendon. Nesta, lunged to get his head on the end of an Earnshaw cross in the first minute of play, hitting the turf-hardened ground knee first, presumably jarring his muscle in the process.

    Earnshaw, one of the newest members of the club, was the protagonist – antagonist? Suppose it depends from which side one observes – in both cases; not through foul play, but through a tenacity that has helped define the new reiteration of the club.

    In truth, DeMerit should never have been risked, having been troubled by tendonitis in the area throughout preseason. And Nesta, well, his ability to stay fit for an entire season – and his importance to the side – has been questioned repeatedly.

    Both injuries were eventualities, but curious that fate would strike when confronted by TFC.

    Matteo Ferrari, Montreal’s other high-profile, experienced centre-back, had the good sense to get himself injured, meaning he will likely miss the series.

    But what odds on the fit-again Nesta, should he feature in either match, not lasting the full match, let alone the first half?

    Heading into the Voyageur’s Cup, Toronto has some additional voodoo over their Canadian rivals. To many it is baffling that a club that has struggled so mightily throughout its existence has maintained their run of four straight national titles against seemingly superior opposition - opposition perhaps better constructed and more eager for a chance at regional glory, well, regional play.

    As stated before, this year’s rendition of the four-team tournament looks set to be the best ever, with all three MLS teams seriously contesting the championship – Edmonton is unfortunately an afterthought at this point, though an upset of Vancouver in the first round - ahem, semifinals - would provide some much-needed drama on the Western side of the country.

    While this may be one of the smaller national cup competitions in the world and one of the newer ones, as well, it always manages to provide some drama and more than a few talking points to those who take the time to follow its, albeit, brief progress.

    It all kicks off tomorrow night (Wednesday, April 24th) with Toronto hosting Montreal and Edmonton welcoming Vancouver with the return legs to be played a week later (Wednesday, May 1st).

    If possible, get out to a match, if not, be sure to tune in on television. In the future, these years will be the basis of a grander competition and a part of national heritage and pride. May as well get in on the ground floor, eh?

    Sportsnet will be airing both matches on their regional channels; with Toronto-Montreal kicking off at 7:30 pm EST and Edmonton-Vancouver at 9:30 pm EST.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content Subsection at Canadian Soccer News

    A pair of posts up over at Canadian Soccer News yesterday.

    First, the standard MLS Weekend Review, results, videos, a peculiar goal of the round, and some other notes from the weekend.

    Second, an extended look at the Canadian on-pitch contributions – top three performers: Nana Attakora, Will Johnson, and Dejan Jakovic.

Beyond POV-FS – Pre-Match Notes – Toronto FC vs. the Houston Dynamo at Waking the Red

    Some last-minute notes prior to this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and the Houston Dynamo at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.