The dates are not set yet, and usually aren't because they have to wait for seedings before they can determine what days stadiums are available and to decide what games they want to put on TV. As for who plays who, the 4th and 5th play each other in a play in round, then its 1v4/5 and 2v3 in the next round. Better details here, including tie-breakers. http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/competition-rules-and-regulations
That's what many said about RSL. Getting the good GM is probably most important in a salary capped league for a team with a limited budget. I think it is probably more important than a coach for the team to become fundamentally competitive. To get the good GM the owner must have the vision to see that, to know that person who is a step removed from the field is key to getting the right people onto the field, that time and money put there to pick the right person solves all manner of ills. The firing of the GM and President appears to be a recognition of that. I don't think he could get Lagerwey, but there are other good folks out there to find, assistants to good GMs, etc. Once that person is in place, listen to him/her and take risks on people with a consistent vision and solid plan then support that person's efforts. It can be done. It has been done with RSL and SKC, and arguably in Dallas.
Tax rate is higher, but costs can be lower (though Toronto is a higher cost city)... I mean, you don't pay any money for medical insurance in Canada, because it is part of your taxes.
While funny, that's a very american view. I'm not rooting for the clothes. or the players. or the coach. I'm rooting for the crest and the organization. It represents my city/country/state/league. Sports are a sense of identity.
I can see this argument and RSL did have a really really horrible 2-3 years as a start to their franchise, but the level of straight FAIL that TFC has displayed (from day 1) as an organization is off the charts. We're talking about 7 straight years of total crap on and off the field. Their fan base has dwindled remarkably, they used to be one of the most passionate and impressive groups of fans in the league, but even their FO and team have driven them off. This is a team that has gone through 9 coaches and several GM's in a constant effort to find the right guy. Hell, how many times have we heard "this is our guy, this is the one who is going to make us a contender and turn this boat around." I'm just not seeing it, they've put down a shit load of money for several years now trying to dig their way out. They've brought in several DP's, several high profile players, have changed coaches, have changed GM's, have changed EVERYTHING several times and nothing has worked. They're just a lousy franchise with lousy owners who love to get their fingers in everything and have failed miserably.
Anyone who said that RSL "always was and always would be" a giant mess after 2 years of existence and 1 coach/gm pairing would have been an idiot. Even Toronto hasn't really been around long enough to say they're eternally doomed to failure -- it's just hard to look on the bright side given that their streak of ineptitude has pushed on longer than any other in the league (except NY; you guys are still on top, Metrostars!).
Maybe the question to ask yourselves is - when did RSL right the on-field performance ship? With the second generation of management, Lagerway, Manning, Kreis? Was it the stadium? Was it both? I mean, the clean break really worked basically. There's no reason to think that couldn't fly at TFC. TFC's spent money, they have rabid fans, they just make bad choices one after another. How much is Del Loy losing on this venture, and how much more is he willing to lose? The Wifi addition was cool and forward thinking. He chartered a flight to Central America that bombed in the CCL last year. So he's shown he'll spend. Will he spend a lot more to retain Jason and Garth? Will he improve the facilities and grounds around the stadium (if you've ever parked in the "North lot" - you know what I mean)? The vitality of the franchise going forward is all about two things really - Hansen's willingness to spend at a loss to grow it - and the simultaneous need to raise the return on fan attendance (less poap and freebies, maybe charging more for better available parking, higher ticket prices as the demand picks up with team success (and fewer games potentially))...and improving tv/sponsorship deals as the product improves in value through success. The meet-the management meeting this year should be interesting. I intend to ask about these sorts of things, the ownership climate.
I think this is a major issue. We had an owner that didn't have knee jerk reactions to cater to the fans that wanted to win NOW. We sucked for the first several years. Checketts gave the group time to develop something because it was a new franchise. After it became obvious their system sucked he fired them and tried something else. At first the team became worse but Checketts was patient to see what they implemented, gave them time to get their team together. Imagine inheriting TFC and having to explain why you aren't the best after one season.
This is an interesting paragraph, in terms of how Del feels about the team and what he expects to achieve with the team. Financially this is a losing venture, we can all agree on that, but the idea of owning and operating a professional team can make money through other means. Now, if he's looking to balance the books in terms of raising the return on attendance he is going to have to continue to field a competitive and successful team. Even great fanbases like TFC's have reached their tipping point, their attendance is down in the order of thousands after years of sucking. Sports fans in Utah are fickle, that much is known, if you put a losing product out there year after year then attendance will drop....QUICKLY. Hansen can't expect to raise prices, increase demand and grow the attendance numbers while skimping out on things like paying for his PROVEN coach and GM to stick around. You gotta pay to play this game and there are very few guarantees in this business. Garson are a proven commodity, as a pair it would almost be impossible to replace both in one offseason and continue the success we've had over the last 5-6 years.
It goes even deeper than that. Sports represent politics as well. Take Everton and Liverpool for example. The colors they chose when the teams started represented the society class that the players and fans belonged to: blue for the working class, and red for the upper class (or vice a versa. I always get it mixed up.).
I'm not sure about the rest of the stadium, but the food at the Club Treats is much better. The burgers seem to be grilled instead of microwaved, they offer veggie toppings, and the hot dogs are now quality hot dogs. I assumed that this change went to the rest of the concession stands, but I could be wrong.
Well I think we can look at the wi-fi that was put in at the stadium. Hansen didn't have to do that. I am sure that it cost him a good chunk of change to do it. I think he is investing in the team.
Nice effort and idea - it only ever works for me when the crowd is tiny (e.g. CR vs Honduras or Reserve games)
Del Loy has bought some of the land to the south west of the stadium. The lot I park in used to be owned by a family who had access to the very west part of the actual parking lot for the stadium. It is now owned by RSL. I think, in fact, that they own most of the land that borders the parking lot on that side (and to the north). When parking this last time we asked the person taking our money if they were part of the family that used to live in the house. They said no, but that they were family of Del Loy Hansen. The plan is to make that into a parking lot in the future.
Looks like RSL and Portland are being booked for mass confrontation. RSL's second offense so it come with a fine for Jason and the organization.
Would've been better having KB in, and LD in the midfield instead of Zusi. Have Altidore up top with Dempsey.
I'm actually more pissed about Jones, that guy is a walking red card and is absolutely AWFUL without a player like Bradley covering up for his crap mistakes. We gotta get Jones and Orozco out at half, get Mixx in, move Cameron to right back and put in either Beckerman as a d-mid (allowing Mixx to move up and distribute the ball) or Johannson to run like a mad man through their defense.
I've never been impressed with Jones in the team. He's so hit or miss on whether he'll play good or not, and he doesn't really fit what the rest of the time is trying to do.
I'm done with Howard, he should have had both the second and third goals, his time is over, need to be starting guzan with rimando on the bench. Howard is awful coming off his line, terrible in the air and a shadow of his former self in shot stopping.
Klinsmann is not sentimental. He will pull the trigger if he thinks it is the right thing to do. And, he'll do it with enough time for Guzan to get games before Brazil.