I've watched a couple Impact games and I think they might embarrass us in the Canadian Cup. Its true in the game I watched, they largely played route one football, but they seemed to win a lot of balls after it was knocked up. I'm not sure our defence will be able to hold, under constantly getting balls whipped in and challenged by their forwards. I don't think theres many MLS teams that play with two target men upfront like that.
As we finished dead last in MLS, and USL teams frequently beat MLS teams, then I'm not sure we are the favourites - outside our little world.
This isn't going to be a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination. Montreal finished third in the USL1 last year, just one point behind Portland. Vancouver's not a bad team either. With a healthy lineup, we'll be a lot stronger than last year. And we will also have that 12th man...particularly against Montreal.
When it comes to getting one up on anything Toronto, Montrealers and Vancouverites will be sure to have a giant 12th man of their own. Winning the Canada Cup is not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination (though I still say TFC are the favourites. As eluded to before, Braz is a starter in Montreal.)
wonder if we'll see a two-legged competition, or maybe even a one-off tournament over the space of a few days at BMO Field for the first edition of the cup. If we do have to travel to Saputo Stadium, expect a frosty reception.
Yup, thats why they play the games. In my eyes TFC, Impact and Whitecaps are all pretty equal. Id say TFC have better quality and skill but Impact and Whitecaps have had players playing together for a few years now. Either or, cant wait till TFC in Montreal!
Currently I would rank the 3 Canadian professional teams: 1. Toronto FC 2. Montreal Impact 3. Vancouver Whitecaps but that being said all 3 teams are of about the same, i'd say Toronto FC based on last year seem closer to the Impact & Whitecaps but a healthy Toronto FC playing to their full potential should win this competition easily, atlhough Whitecaps have picked up 2 DC United players on loan so I hear, and both teams could sign MLS caliber players.
There isn't that much of a talent gap between the top USL-1 teams and MLS to begin with, so I totally agree that matches between the three Canadian pro teams could be anyone's game. This could actually be a proper soccer tourney with all participants having particular strengths and weaknesses that could cost the trophy.
Only thing I see as a possible problem for TFC over the other two teams is players being called away for national duties and olympic games.
Something to consider: Montreal is Vancouver's bogey team. The last few years, we haven't had a whole lot of success against them, and even that is being charitable to the 'Caps. If Montreal takes 6 points off us (not something I would welcome, but entirely possible), that makes things interesting between the two of you. Then again, it's uncertain as to what the team will look like this year with the new coach at the helm. Whatever happens, this season should be very entertaining.
Haha, if you mean 200guys who care and about 14k 10 year olds, then yeah, we will have a great 12th man. And to the guy asking about expecting trouble and not backing down...come on dude. What is honestly the worst thing that can happen, a rumble on St. Catherine's street? Get real.
Was gonna say that but I've seen that joke go south pretty quickly in the past. But still, the worst trouble at an impact game would be one of our thousands of toddlers roaming the game touches you with their sticky fingers. Are you the guy who made that EPL Boundary thread? What is that all about?
if Habs/Leafs fans can sit side-by-side cheering on their teams without incident, as has been going on for decades, then I can't see how there would all of a sudden be trouble between Impact fans and TFC fans. If anything, the atmosphere could be much more electric and exciting as a result of our long standing rivalries.
Though is there really a rivalry between Canadiens and Leafs fans? Since I've been in Toronto, the media and local fans seems to imply this ... but growing up in Montreal, I never had any sense that there was any rivalry between the teams - Toronto - who were normally in dead last - showing up in town was about as interesting as Winnipeg. The rivalry always seemed to be teams like Philadelphia, Boston, the Nordiques, and more recently Ottawa.
Football fans are WAY different than hockey fans... Mentality and other aspects... I would think it would be a HUGE mistake having mixed crowd... As far as football goes, it just ain't right...
If anything it will be more fun to have the fans seperated. Anyways you never know what will happen if someone has a couple of beers of them, and has just driven down from Montreal to see their team lose. You know how American media loves to blow a fist fight out of proportion.
Montreal should be very good this year, especially with their extensive preseason training. With the 'caps it's hard to say. New coach, new style of play.... hopefully they'll be better than last season. I think both could definitely give Toronto a run for their money. No way is it just going to be Toronto year after year. Whoever wins it, hopefully they can go on and qualify for the group stage and do well.
This is actually what I really like to hear. I don't think it will be a cakewalk for any team, but we are almost guaranteed that all matches will be absolutely electric with a CCL sport on the line.
I posted this elsewhere, but I'll repeat it here. To me, the format of this tournament makes an upset less likely. And, no matter how much the USL crowd wants to believe otherwise, the worst MLS team is better than the best USL team, especially when looking at a starting XI. Where the USL can compete is in the second XI, because MLS' development salaries aren't competitive with the money paid to a USL starter--witness Braz (he was likely offered a chance to come back to Toronto for $12,500). Since MLS teams typically play their second teams when playing USL sides, that's why you see the occasional upset in US Open Cup play (but, you rarely see USL teams actually win the whole thing). With the CCL spot on the line you can bet that Toronto is going to play balls out in these games. If it was a single elimination cup format, Montreal or Vancouver would have a much better chance at winning. But, in a round-robin, it's highly unlikely that those teams will be able to sustain the level of play needed to upset TFC. I do believe that one of the USL teams will win one of the games against Toronto. However, Toronto will take a full six points away from its home dates and will get the split on the road for nine points. It seems likely that Vancouver and Montreal will take points off each other, so nine should be enough. About the only way I see a USL team winning is if the following perfect scenario plays out: Montreal----------------Toronto-----------------Vancouver W @ Vancouver---------W @ Vancouver---------L @ Montreal W V Vancouver---------W V Vancouver----------L V Montreal L @ Toronto------------W V Montreal------------L @ Toronto W v Toronto------------L @ Montreal------------L V Toronto Toronto 9 Montreal 9 Vancouver 0 Montreal wins on GD. Or, since we haven't actually seen the format, it's still possible that there will be a one game playoff after the round-robin (the Canada Day date is open at BMO). As I've already said, an upset is far more likely in a single game elimination scenario than in a prolonged competition.