Pre-Match / Match / Post-Match Thread - Toronto FC at San Jose Earthquakes - May 8, 2013 (R)

They're still the defending supporters shield champs though, we mustn't forget that.
We're lucky Gordon's suspended though, I'm sure he would have scored against us

 

I don't think this is part of Nelson's grand plan, but I'd like to O'Dea and Califf together for one more league game. I think this team needs all the on-field coaching it can get to avoid more stoppage time silliness.

 

Califfe has looked ok so far, up until the recent Montreal game where he looked completely lost. I think that has a lot to do with being paired up with O'Dea - for which he wasn't against Montreal.

 

Califf was also paired with Henry in the first leg, and he looked alright in that one. Though his distribution was absolutely terrible

 

So TFC are known for giving away points late. SJ are known for stealing points late, especially at Buck Shaw.

We're so screwed

 

Anybody with a stream?

...is what I will ask when it's no longer Tuesday night...

 

Lets hope Braun indeed is able to start. We desperately need a big target man again to hold some possession and get on the end of those long, long balls from the back and right now he's the only one. It would also push Silva back to midfield.

 

Our lineup is Bendik; Richter, Henry, O'Dea, Emory; Lambe, Hall, Laba, Silva; Braun, Earnshaw
It will be interesting to see who plays on the left. I imagine it will either be a 4-1-2-1-2 with Laba or Hall playing on the left, or a 4-4-2 with Laba and Hall in the middle and Silva on the left. I hope it's the former since I think Silva is most effective in the middle. Although if he can solve the problem at left wing, than I don't mind him starting there

 

henry ahead of Boss and Califf?

 

Braun!!

 

Braun opens the scoring thanks to defending so bad, you'd be excused if you thought it was TFC who conceded.

1-0

 

Henry has played a very solid 45 minutes. I think he's won every header.

 

Wow the keeper punched him in the head, and then shoved him to the ground. Only thing he didn't do was snatch his wallet.

 

And there it folks: what you tuned into watch.

 

Its amazing that after all of these years TFC still has the problem of giving up goals in the last 15 minutes

 

That was a little early for conceding the winning goal, wasn't it? We usually wait for 85.

 

How is it possible with all of this player and coach turnover that our problems never seem to change? It defies all logic. We're always bad at the exact same things.

 

The lack of discipline in the second half was hard to watch. It's amazing how our guys have to pick up bookings to break up San Jose attacks while all they have to do is stick a toe in.

 

TFC looked really good for about 20 minutes. Then it slowly degraded to the point where we didn't do anything but hoof it long. Also, Silva on the wing just isn't the best use of him IMO. He doesn't get nearly involved enough. The only times he does get involved is when he migrates to the middle

 

I discussed this earlier, but the players need to gel together and communicate. Being unfamiliar w/ each other is a huge problem. If there's a lack of communication, then you're going to give up way too many soft goals.

First goal was a terrible mental lapse which SJ picked up on. TFC players were way too relaxed during the throw in. Henry was MILES out of position. Gotta give credit to Jahn though for the fancy footwork against Emory.

Two things come to mind on the Wondolowski goal. First off, Henry shouldn't have been marking Wondo. You put an experienced defender on a guy like Wondo. Second, someone should have been on the near post. Slight chance it could have been blocked.

 

These last two games have been pretty dreadful (well three if you count Montreal). We've reverted back to a Mariner-like Hoof the ball up the field and hope Hassli Earnshaw can grab it. We have no midfield whatsoever, going forward. Im also curious about the whole Laba thing. The guys on Score keep saying how he's the creative midfielder they need, when he's clearly not. He's more of a b to b or ball winning midfielder. A useful role, but not one that we really needed right now. I'm thinking Brockie can now fill that AM role, but he's only here for a month or two.