Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012 (R)

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Only caught the last 15 minutes, very impressed with the crowd though knew they were going to bag one, especially after someone threw a can a beer at becks, damn karma

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Good game. Yeah it would have been nice had they won it, but given that tfc were the underdogs here, it is still a good result

Thhe team is looking good for the regular season too. Picture this lineup but with jdg and avila, plus one of our cbs healthy again.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Okay just got back from the game. Here's my assessment.

-We were lucky to get the draw, but the way we lost still hurts.
-Silva's goal was NICE.
-Frings seemed to be a monster in defence. That said, I'm not sure what happened on the first LA goal (I was sitting at the other end). Who missed their assignment?
-Plata still looks amazing
-Koevermans did not have his best match.
-I am not a fan of the formation even with Frings at the back.
-Ref was shit. Definitely missed a few calls our way. I don't think he was bribed just told that they wanted LA in the semis.
-Saunders was outside the 18, ref clearly blew that call.
-The streamers are bush league. Don't do it. it's kinda funny, but still.
-The beers cans are seriously bush league. I think we should have the people with shields like they do in some other leagues.
-Atmosphere was awesome. Had a good time in a relatively quiet section and brought a bunch of friends who are now asking me how to get tickets.
-******** LA. Screw MLS generated rivalries through unbalanced schedules. I hate those mother********ers. Especially Landycakes.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Toronto looked very tired after 60 min. They tried as hard as possible to continue but their fitness is not there yet. If that does not improve, it will be a long season.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

2 things that are inexplicable and inexcusable......

1. Fans/supporters throwing things (on the game tying corner there were 2 Carlsberg cans and one water bottle)

2. Professional coaches throwing on a substitute at a defensive corner (on the game tying corner there was 1 of those)

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Sure looked that way but why would LAG be ahead on fitness?

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Plata was totally gassed. Nothing left in the tank.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

LA was able to possess in the 2nd half and wear your guys down.

Solid showing though. You are right in this thing.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Came on for Aceval at the corner kick that led to their 2nd goal.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

just got back and I have a few things to say
1) Frei was complete and utter shit today. no communication with his defenders, shaky from the beginning giving away a corner on a weak shot from outside the box. He has a horrid time tracking balls in the air, which caused the first LA goal, and he has no idea where to stand on corners. On one Beckham in-swinger he was standing at the top of his box and was forced to run backwards and fall into his own net when Beckham went for goal from the corner. Fortunately there was someone there to save his ass.
2) Dunfield was shit. Every time the ball touched his foot he would boot it, or if he had some time he'd make a pass behind someone. I hope people now understand why JDG is so darn important to our midfield. I also remember one point where he got the ball in our box with no LA players around him and fired the ball out the back for an LA corner.
3) Frings was a beast. He save Frei's ass a couple times and was overall defensively solid.
4) THAT GAME WAS AWESOME!!!!! I've never had that much fun at a sporting event of any kind

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Just in from the game tonight and thought I'd share my views. I was sitting in row 10 of section 514 just off center and in perfect position to see the game.

After not being able to watch any pre-season action, but anxiously checking results and news, I came away from this game impressed. When tfc managed to play to their strengths they looked like a dangerous team. I'm excited for the season and the continued evolution of coach Winter's plan.

Some thoughts on tonight:

- Both teams pushed each other in the opening minutes until tfc started keeping possession and then had a greater number of chances and scored twice. It was encouraging to see that tfc was able to find space and were moving the ball into those areas with mostly precise passes.

- The defense looked much improved with Frings playing a strong air game all night. This became more important in the second half when the Galaxy began playing more direct crosses into the box. To me, the best sign that our defense had improved was the fluidity of passing and movement among defenders and keeper. Seriously, how many times did our defense surrender possession cheaply last season simply because of their discomfort on the ball under pressure? It's nice to see this part of the plan start to click. Toronto's team is assembled in a way that we don't have one dominant figure at the back so how the team keeps possession and moves the ball will affect overall team defense. The less of it they give up (which has always been too much) the better chance at improved defensive performances. .

- I wonder if Toronto came out too quickly. After the second goal, LA woke up and tfc didn't have an answer. They chased the ball around for most of the last 25 minutes and I think most were starting to tire before half. Plata seemed to be one of those players. His overall pace was still there but defenders were able to deal with him more handily as he lost his explosive edge. Koevermans, too, was tired in the end and his inability to win a single clearance in the midfield and hold up play led directly to the corner on which Landycakes tied the game. Many others looked tired too. Maybe it was the pitch, or the fact that tfc is a young team who came out hungrier and tired more easily. Hopefully this will be sorted out by next week.

- I liked what Lambe brought to the game tonight. Although he is billed as a Plata carbon copy, I think it's a wrong assumption. He clearly doesn't have the creative side of Plata but what he does have is speed, hustle and fight. He fits well with Winter's 2 players for 1 spot theory, just that he and Plata are different. Lambe will see plenty of time when tfc need someone who can fight for possession in the attacking third and can harass defenders into mistakes. Think game closer.

- Koevermans did some excellent work tonight. While he didn't have his strongest game I really enjoyed watching his leadership qualities. He was petitioning refs on his teammates behalf and tried to create some controversy in the box later in the game (from my angle, it looked like he ran through the back of the Galaxy defender but he immediately tried to get a call for it). It's nice having a player who wants to win on your team and seems as focused as Danny is.

- Lastly, and really the only disappointment of the night for me, was the crowd. I truly hope tfc never play a home game outside of BMO Field for the foreseeable future. While the crowd was into it early, the huge confines of the Skydome made it difficult to sustain anything, or to hear the supporter group's songs. In the end, my section found it to be more entertaining to see which paper airplane could make it further. From the 60th minute on, numerous planes could be seen overhead with as many as 10 making it to the pitch (they were admittedly, nice throws). I kid you not when I say that our section cheered louder for the plane than for our boys.

**I'm not saying I didn't like the big crowd, but I think tonight's game proved to me that there aren't that many educated soccer fans who are willing to go to games outside of the individuals who already attend tfc games. I think packing those people into BMO would genuinely make for a better 12th man**

- Related to the crowd, my only other gripe was the streamers. Many will agree that while fun in the early tfc days, streamers serve no purpose at games anymore. It only reinforces the idea that throwing objects onto the field of play is acceptable and likely encouraged those paper airplanes as well. From a tactical perspective the stoppages created due to the streams are unnecessary and kill the flow of games. It can be argued that it allows teams like LA who have set piece specialists extra time to set up and in fact, Donovan's goal was off of a lengthy delay.

I had been looking forward to this game for months and was excited to be able to attend. I look forward to being able to see tfc develop over the season and to see how other plays step up. All in all, there were a lot of positives tonight and if Toronto can learn to play a style when they're tired which allows them to slow the game or hold possession I think these young kids are going to do well.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

tremendous atmosphere and support, had a blast! terrible feeling giving away the equalizer but TFC still have a very realistic chance to move on against a powerhouse club, and for that i think you have to be proud of them.

-disappointing officiating. so much galaxy respect away from their own city makes me wanna puke. did we even get a free kick or advantage played in the offensive half? LOL

-frings is effortless. silva, what can you say, a gem. morgan was stand out tonight as well, i see no reason why him and eckersley can't continue finding joy up the wing in LA. JDG back in midfield will be a godsend.

-frei seemed indecisive on the first goal. not his fault since the man was unmarked and pointblank, but could've been in a better position if he reacted better.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

My thoughts on the game:

- If you would've told me before the game that Plata was going to be the first guy subbed off and Dunfield would be the last, I would've said "no way". Now that it happened, heres what I think: No frickin way! Why not the other way around? Then to see Winter bring in a rookie defender on to replace Aceval who is our best passing CB instead of Harden who's not a good passer or defender, but still has more experience than a guy playing his first game. Come on, really?

- Getting back to the Dunfield sub....what the hell kept you, Winter? Either he starts playing further up field to link our defense to our offense on the counterattack or you replace him with someone who might be able to (Stinson) a lot sooner.

- How does Frei get a card for yelling at the ref but the dude who tried to elbow check Johnson gets away with nothing?

- The thing about the streamers is, when it works to distract the corner kick taker and your team gets a good result because of it, you look like a genius. But when it doesn't, you look like a moron. The thing about throwing a can is, you're a moron regardless.

- Of all the people who could've scored tonight, Donovan was the one I wanted least to score. Even if Beckham scored, I wouldn't have said anything. But I just had to let Donovan have a piece of my mind because this guy spent 88 minutes looking for any opportunity to dive and then when he wants to actually play, he scores.

- Congrats to L.A. on winning 2-2. They looked like a better team by a mile and if they had a nicer field to pass on, maybe they would've won 6-2. Actually, without the home field advantage tonight, I think they might've gotten the benefit of the doubt on at least two offside calls. We're not going to get so lucky next week.

- With the benefit of more experience, I hope we'll start doing more of the things they do which include one touch passes, one-two's, and pressing higher. There was no trickery and very little creativity tonight, and the creativity we did get was from Eckersley. Yeah...

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

MDS FC, i can understand your views with the crowd from the 500 section, but frankly, any event from up there is usually a joke because that section attracts a lot of people who just wanna "be there". i was in the 200's and it was a very joyous atmosphere. i thought the supporters section did very well.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

also perplexed by some of the subs and timing, adrenaline11. loved the streamers though!

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

Was my first time at a T.F.C game tonight and I have to say it was absolutely immense. The atmosphere was amazing! I can't wait to go again.

I have a question though, where are you able to purchase the Toronto FC vs L.A Galaxy scarves from? I didn't see anybody selling them after the match. Cheers!

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

From where I sat in 512 it seemed 514 and 515 were destined to do that - people there were throwing streamers in the lights within 10 minutes of the stadium opening. Those seats are farthest away from the pitch and always attract yahoos, no matter what the game.

Where I was sitting, people were TFC supporters, but not the sort that will stand all game. 60% of people had TFC scarves or jerseys, which when you are up in the cheap seats is extraordinary. That TFC drew 45K in supporters is a sign of how deep the support for this team really is.

And, lets face it, the second half was pretty dreadful for long stretches.


My thoughts

Both teams looked like in preseason form still, or more correctly, first 4 weeks of MLS season form. LA was in better shape, but Arena's teams always are. Plata was out of gas. Koev looked like he did in his first few games last season, but got more truculent in the second half.

Frings was Frings. His pass on the Silva goal was superb. We just need to figure out a way to get him in front of the defence, not in it. Dunfield is not a proper replacement for JDG.

Harden was the defensive weakness and LA knew it - Keane targeted him all game and, lets face it, that's a class mismatch. Donovan did nothing down their side all game and scored on a melee goal - he looked like he had been off sick which he was.

Until their first goal, we played well. That goal was caused by Frei being out of game practice and Ecks playing the potential ball flight, not staying with his man.

Silva - horse. Strong, willing to keep it at his feet. The real deal.

Lambe - potential but he was out of gas 30 minutes after coming on. Ran around a lot and physical.

Ref - some bad decisions, typical CONCACAF. First half, pretty much let everything go. Second half, did give some stuff to both teams. Linesmen were both horrible.

Seemed to me that the crowd across from the cameras was purposely sold out while the one on the other side was left to sponsers, and thus looked spotty. 45K + sold, yes. I'd say about 41K there.


Skydome is not a place for crowd noise that is understood and settles around the stadium. Its designed for baseball cheering of home runs and good plays. The fact that a few TFC chants actually emanated from the top is a good sign. The fact we could hear the supporters sections occasionally was cool.

From where I sat, people were all discussing the match, not their business deals, which is a sign of football supporters.

Paper airplanes were funny the first time. The 3rd-9th time it was pretty boring.

The people who started the wave.... I am so glad it died out after about 4 sections.

Beercan at Beckham, bad...bad...bad.

Streamers, great fun to throw off the 500 level. But, like the seat cushions, having done that once, not again. Frankly, I'd prefer vuvezelas

Pitch looked HORRIBLE.


All in all a good night out.

Re: Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - CCL - Toronto FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - March 7, 2012

From a neutral's perspective, I don't think it realistically could have gone much better for TFC. It was always going to be a tall order to get a W against the Galaxy, so to be in the lead for 85+ minutes and come away with the draw is a good result. From what I saw, I think Toronto will be a force in the East this season.

And the atmosphere was awesome on tv...well, 99% of it. It was fun to see Becks repeatedly show his frustration at the streamers when he was trying to set up for corners, but whatever sh*thead threw that beer can definitely screwed it up for everyone (see also: Dynamo supporters).