Beyond POV-FS – July Recap: Radio Hits, Night Games, Three Matches, Patience, Tosaint Ricketts, Damien Perquis, & a Handful of Mailbags

So, it seems as though making this a regular post is a little more difficult than previously hoped.

This edition, like its predecessor, comes ridiculously late – apologies.

Waking the Red – WTR Mailbag: On Night Games

In this edition of the mailbag, the opening topic revolved around the change of schedule that Toronto FC has undergone this season.

Since the club was formed, the majority, if not all, league matches were played mid-afternoon, when the sun was highest in the sky.

Unsurprisingly, it evoked a response from one reader who feared that this decision would adversely affect the ability for families with younger children from taking part.

The rest of the conversation involved Jordan Hamilton, the Alex Bono vs. Quillan Roberts conundrum, a bit of Tosaint Ricketts' will-he, won't saga, and the MLS transfer window.

MLSsoccer.com – Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire

The post-match reactions from TFC's 1-0 win over Chicago: Toronto solid and unconcerned by Sebastian Giovinco's goal-less run; while Chicago take pride in effort as the club continues to be molded into the vision of Veljko Paunovic.

Greg Vanney's last words – 'He'll find his way' – seem especially prescient now.

Nextsportstar – Red Card with Anthony Totera

Mr. Totera was good enough to have me on the show, talking all things TFC.

Always a must listen for footy fans, covering a good mix of local, national, and international topics.

Waking the Red – WTR Mailbag: On Patience in Youth

In this edition of the mailbag, the tale and of Hamilton came to the forefront.

Listening to the chatter, would have left one to think that the youngster was on the outs having vanished into the background since coming onto the scene with such fanfare. But given his chance, he seized it with both hands (feet?), making the most and proving that he has a future at this level.

Conversation in the comment section included whether the club would stick with the youth, or reinsert the starters upon their return – still a pertinent issue, as well as how the club should proceed during the transfer window, what with the then-recently announced departure of Damien Perquis.

Vocal Minority Podcast – Episode 146 #MuskyGuide

The good folks over at VMP were kind enough to proffer the invite, unaware of what awaited them – a cracking, albeit flimsy, seven-point defence of the egg laid in San Jose where TFC fell 2-1 to an Earthquakes side reduced to nine men by a pair of highly-debatable, later-rescinded red cards.

MLSsoccer.com – Toronto FC's Alex Bono owns up to mistake, while [Jozy] Altidore likely to return

With the debacle in San Jose in the rear-view, Bono acknowledged the gaffe, discussed needing to have a short memory, while proving to his teammates he could be counting upon. It also emerged that Altidore was nearing his return, exciting Giovinco in particular.

MLSsoccer.com – Tosaint Ricketts 'ready to go' after ending wait to sign for Toronto FC

The worst kept secret, and longest transfer saga, in TFC history finally came to a conclusion as the Canadian international was finally able to put pen to paper and join his new side months after coming into the fold.

Ricketts discussed the peculiarity of his situation, what he brings to TFC, and the familiarity of BMO Field, having excelled there with the National Team.

Waking the Red – WTR Mailbag: On the Realities of MLS Rosters & Damien Perquis

In this edition of the mailbag, a hearty candidate for longest title to date, the difficulties of managing an MLS roster, where both spots and finances make it difficult to make a move without first making others.

As well, a salute to Perquis who departed the club, recognizing one of the presumably many private moments that the greater public does not get to see, hopefully, providing a glimpse beyond the fiery competitor on the pitch.

Conversation revolved around the then-recent announcement of the EFL's intentions to punish dissent more full-throatedly, the projected lineups and their veracity, Perquis as emblem, breaking down opposition defenses in MLS, logical fallacies (only the best), and another deep dive on the rules & regulations, trying to suss out their true meaning.

MLSsoccer.com – Toronto FC vs. DC United

Post-match reactions following TFC's 4-1 win over DC: Giovinco announces 'he's back' with an emphatic hat-trick, while DC lick the wounds of a bad performance in preparation for a return home.

Waking the Red – WTR Mailbag: On Home Form

And finally, with Toronto in the midst of a four-game home stretch, not to mention six of their last eight matches this season at home, the important of utilizing the advantages of to pile on the points. Up first was a potential-Trillium Cup clinching bout with Columbus.

The advantage of hindsight allows one to say that the club took this message to heart.

Conversation below, although a little muted, saw yet another dive into the dark abyss of MLS rules where swirling eddies of GAM and TAM, flotsam and jetsam, remained tantalizingly beyond comprehension, and a spot of autographing hunting.

MLSsoccer.com – Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew

Post-match reactions following TFC's 3-0 win over Columbus, that saw the side win a second trophy of the season: the Trillium Cup.

For Toronto, the stunning performance by a youthful midfield – Jonathan Osorio, Marky Delgado, Jay Chapman, and Tsubasa Endoh – stole the headlines in the absence of Benoit Cheyrou, who has been the straw that stirs the drink through a difficult month; while the Crew lamented an unacceptable outing.


Seeing as it is already the second week of August, no promises will be made about being more timely with these, though that is the intention.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

A preview of Toronto FC's upcoming opponent, the Chicago Fire, ahead of Saturday's match at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

Chicago are a bit of an unknown quantity at this point, what with the coaching change and their season all but officially ended. A wounded beast is never an easy foe.

Should be interesting – check it out

POV-FS Out Loud! The Vocal Minority Podcast - Episode 81 #RedMoustaches

The good folks over at VMP were kind enough to (finally) grant me my season debut on the show – it's award-winning now, if you haven't heard.

As for a brief rundown of the topics, if memory serves we discussed the loss in Chicago, the announcement of the first summer friendly, Duncan and I debated the bending of the space-time continuum, as per a specific refereeing decision in Colorado (not sure if that made it past the editing room floor to be honest), as well as all the usual pageantry of Bitchy Blanks, Would You Rather, and so on.

Plus I got to steal a CAW or two in the process. Random sidenote: CAW also stands for Canadian Auto Workers and I saw one of their economists, the one from the TV, on the subway prior to recording, which I suppose is something.

It's great fun chatting with some friends, so I hope you enjoy.

The episode page can be found here. Or it can be downloaded directly from this link Or there's a thing called Soundcloud which is apparently pretty cool. And of course, if you don't want to have to remember to download every week, iTunes works – and if you're not into that, I'm sure you have some other way of getting that taken care of (do people still use RSS?).

Now to ice that hamstring.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy and How You Doin'? Chicago Fire at Waking the Red

The preview material for Toronto FC's upcoming match on Saturday against the Chicago Fire went up over at Waking the Red over the past few days.

Know Your Enemy provides a detailed look at the Fire. Part One examines their lineup and form, while Part Two hits the video tapes, reviewing game film for strengths and weaknesses.

In How You Doin', Waking the Red exchanges questions with sister SB Nation Chicago Fire site, Hot Time in Old Town, where Sean Spence provides answers to some queries and helps kick off the match with a touch of banter.

In turn, Waking the Red responded to some questions about TFC prior to the match in a Fire Side Chat – the one about the Death-Clock in particular was striking.

Check them out – and enjoy the match!

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

Preview of Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park is up over at Waking the Red – Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Notes from the Stands – Toronto FC v Chicago Fire at Waking the Red

A few observations from Saturday’s match are up over at Waking the Red – check it out and share your thoughts match

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

Preview of Toronto FC’s upcoming match against the Chicago Fire is up over at Waking the Red

Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of tomorrow’s match between Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois is up over at Waking the Red.

    All the usual depth and splendor: lineup, form, strengths and weaknesses.

Check it out – and the rest of the preview materials via the Game Hub

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content – Round 26 at Canadian Soccer News

    Weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News, recapping this weekend’s events in MLS.

    The Week in Review recaps all the matches – with highlights – as well as the usual sub-features – goal of the round, sights and sounds, controversy and the like.

    Dwayne De Rosario, Russell Teibert, and Patrice Bernier take the top three spots on the Canadian Countdown.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Good Listens – MLS Podcast Round-Up

    Highlighting a trio of North American podcasts from the past week or so:

MLS 2013 Preview – The Big Questions: Eastern Conference

    While most folks are busy foretelling and projecting just how this season will play out, we – the royal we – here at POV-FS prefer to offer you questions.

    Each offseason MLS clubs undergo radical player overhauls, in part necessitated by the restrictions of the salary cap and roster spots.

    As such, sometimes it can take weeks - or months - before a club’s true nature presents itself. Some clubs will not have their rosters sorted until the midway point and with the nature of playoffs being what they are, it may not matter how things began, only how they end.

    Remember, prediction makes fools of us all; so, on with the questions.

    In this installment: the Eastern Conference.

First Person View - Mariner’s Contrasting Comments

    In the space of just under a month Paul Mariner has radically changed his tune.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match at BMO Field between Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Upon First Glance – Toronto FC at Chicago Fire

    Some assorted thoughts on the match.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the Second over at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match between Toronto FC and Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois is up over at Waking the Red.

Foresight – MLS Round 12 Weekend Preview

Four questions to be answered in this the twelfth weekend of MLS action.

From a Different Point of View – 4th Week of April Edition

Some things you may have missed from around the interwebs over the last week:

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the First at Waking the Red

            Preview of this weekend’s match between Toronto FC and Chicago Fire at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

MLS Weekly Review - Midweek Round 31 – Of Hope Extinguished Early, Doubling-Down, a Rally Too Late & the Playoff Mountain Looming Large.

    The two midweek fixtures scheduled for round thirty-one of the MLS season, like most of the remaining matches, had important playoff ramifications. Six goals, one red card, two teams inching closer to elimination, while another clinches their postseason berth, and the wooden spoon changes hand.

MLS Weekly Review - Midweek Round 29 – Of Who’s Your Pappa, & a High-Octane Shootout in Chester.

    Three midweek fixtures in round twenty-nine; eleven goals, no draws, a big road win, and a head-butt duly red carded.