Posted on 4/19/2010

Who would have thought that after week 4 the New York Red Bulls would be top of the table in the MLS East?  A complete revamp of their roster, a new stadium, and a new coach and this team is certainly on the up and up.  Certainly it may be a little bit early to really dive into how things are looking, but if things continue along the same lines we are starting to see how things may roll out for Major League Soccer’s 15th season.  Could we once again see two teams from the West in MLS Cup, in an Eastern venue (BMO Field)? 

New look BMO Field is where all 16 clubs hope to end up on November 21. (Getty)

The Los Angeles Galaxy, who started last season on a very slow pace, have picked it up this season.  Although they were not losing matches early last season, they were not winning either.  That has changed.  Former Toronto FC striker Edson Buddle is on a torrid pace in the goal scoring department with all 7 of Los Angeles’ goals to date helping them to a perfect 4-0 start so far this season.  It certainly does not look like they’ve missed a beat not having the service of David Beckham has not slowed them down.  The Seattle Sounders are proving their first season was not just luck and they’ve built a competitive team from the get go as they sit in a three-way tie for 2nd place in the West.

On the flip side some of the struggling sides in Major League Soccer continue to do the same out of the gates this season.  DC United have yet to earn a point and for a team struggling on the pitch it does not make for people to come rushing to the front door to help build the club a soccer specific stadium.  One would think this would be a slam dunk considering DC United’s success in the past, but it’s the future and future dollar signs people are thinking about today.  Without Preki at the helm it appears that Chivas USA is in for a long season.  After going to the post season the last three years, all with early exits, Chivas are only ahead of lowly FC Dallas in the MLS West.  Early congrats have to go to Frank Yallop and the San Jose Earthquakes.  Although it’s a long season the Quakes are well on their way of passing their seven wins last season with two wins in the first four weeks. 

 

Toronto FC will be in tough to get things back on track this Saturday vs. Seattle.  The last time the Sounders came to Toronto they left with three points, but this time around, like Toronto FC last week, they have a quick turnaround having to play FC Dallas on their way to Toronto on Thursday night. One thing we know for sure is that two weeks in Major League Soccer is how fast things can change.  Anyone remember trying to figure out who would be the Wildcard teams in the play-offs last year??  You almost needed a math degree to figure it out.  However it all turns out we should at the very least all be happy we are talking MLS and they are actually playing after the league and union agreed on a new CBA.

On the Canadian soccer front Toronto FC is looking forward to defending their Canadian Championship.  That kicks off for Toronto on April 28th against the Montreal Impact who will no doubt be looking for revenge after Toronto FC put the boots to them stopping Vancouver from winning the Championship. 

The National Team announced last week it’s schedule of matches for the 2010 year.  Finally more games and better opponents. The season kicks off on May 24th against a country who actually has an outside chance of winning the FIFA World Cup.  Playing Argentina in Buenos Aires is a dream from many Canadian players.  Sometimes our player pool would be very small for matches and Stephen Hart would have a difficult time finding a starting eleven and certainly having any depth on the bench.  Now players are jumping at the opportunity to play in this match and there will be some disappointed if they don’t get the call.  Just that attitude of wanting to play for Canada shows a small change in the culture and importance of representing your country which is always good.  Hopefully good results will follow.

Comments

Posted by thekaptin on
4/21/2010 11:34:25 AM
I'm not a big Mo fan right now, but I think Preki needs a bit of time yet. Its been far too long a wait for playoff soccer, even in year four, but lets remind ourselves of one simple fact: there was no TFC until the team was awarded a franchise. Literally not in existence. Seattle (as well as Portland and Vancouver next year) are seasoned teams, with history and fan base already in place, that made (and will make) changes to upgrade to MLS life, giving them a one up on TFC in their opening season. That being said, TFC should have been in the playoffs last year, and this year building on that success. Instead, we missed the post season, and it looks early on that we'll do the same this year. Now if Philly maker the playoffs in their first season...that will definitely show just how poorly this team has been managed!
Posted by 108 on
4/20/2010 8:52:43 PM
Wow some people need spell check on here. It's hard to read your posts sometimes.\nEntitled, I have to disagree with you, if RPB weren't there, U Sector would pick up some of the slack but definitely it wouldn't be close, and NorthEnd Elite wouldn't even exist. Without RPB the atmosphere would be closer to a Leafs game. RPB are playing that role of helping the rest of us get into it, by their actions it releases the rest of Timid Toronto to jump up and down, shout, chant. They're the catalyst and they're owed a lot for the atmosphere. And btw, no I'm not a member of RPB, but I'm behind them 100%.\n
Posted by Ramez on
4/20/2010 7:42:55 PM
BIS duncan crazy or something ? what type of comment is this ? ... It does not make sense and lacks of facts .... here are some facts for you What drives me crazy is i'm giving actual facts and people seem to hate it ... 75 players brought in to TFC and still no playoffs ..... spending over 200 thousand a year on Barret who has had 45 games 8 goals in 2008 .. and now hes record is even worst . then you have JUlian de Guzman who cost 3 million and earns $ 909,600.00 $. IS this what type of DP Mo will keep signing ? . South american player will do the same job for nothing . Nick garcia gets 190 000 $ .. waste of money and spot. .. Obrian white gets 40 thousand and does better then most strikers... ITs pathetic when DEro who's in hes 30's has to do everything ! ..Pathetic .. Mo decision are absolutely a disgrace to the fans .. you wanna be a die hard fan ? Youre voices are only hears when it fallows the managers plan.. but once you disagree with Mo's choice he cant hear you .
Posted by entitled on
4/20/2010 5:32:54 PM
i don't think the problem with the RPB is they're not good supporters - the problem is that they are feel like (for a lack of a better term) entitled supporters. \n\nwhat makes you a big part of the team? is that you have 500 members and a big part of a great atmosphere for home games and some road games? \n\nprobably. \n\nalthough, think for a second. if your group didn't, some other would. its this entitlement you feel with the club, is what rubs me the wrong way. almost 22,000 fans attend home games. all the 'atmosphere' isn't coming from one small section. \n\nyes you are a big part and we're all thankfully for you THAT. but like i said, if you didn't do it, some other group(s) would -- there is more 500 people supporting at home games.\n\nit feels to me, being a RPB is more about being a RPB than being a TFC supporter. its more about following and belonging to something. \n\n\nif i may, a question to King Dave:\nwhy is Duncan Green not a real TFC fan?\n\nis it bc he doesn't agree with you? \n\nthis is whats wrong with the Toronto sports scene. or any scene in Toronto really. we as Torontonians tend to follow, like sheep to the pasture - waiting to cry and whine about our team.\n\nand why do you think what is happening at Old Trafford even relates to TFC? you should know by now that you are not in England supporting football - the drinking at BMO should have been enough of a reminder.\n\nso get your head outta your a$$ for some fresh air sometimes and notice your surroundings.
Posted by noelpaulp on
4/20/2010 4:48:36 PM
Negative attitude? Duncan Green seems to think that all TFC fans need to shut up or play dumb! Everyone is entitled to their opinions and when bad decisions are made, we the fans need to speak up. Yes, we wanted to see some changes and improvements from last year, but didn't ask for Mo Johnson to get rid of the entire team. Building a great team does take time, but creating chemistry is done by adding new players to an already existing team; not by creating tensions in the locker room or completetly destroying what was already there.
Posted by 108 on
4/20/2010 4:20:48 PM
I've been involved in this sport all my life both as a player and supporter. I've never seen such turnover on a roster as Mo has done. Chemistry is never going to happen that way, and what he also doesn't seem to be talented at is choosing players to build a complete team; having their individual skills fill in the puzzle pieces. There are either players out there that shouldn't be, based on their talent, or there are players too similar in style on the field next to each other.\nI have no idea what Mo is like as a person, maybe he's a great guy, maybe not, but that's completely irrelevant, he's proven he can't build this team and a new GM is needed. Nothing personal, he's not getting the job done, that's it. And Preki needs to work on more set plays and skill instead of just fitness.\nOr is this franchise just another example of the MLSE curse??!!
Posted by capo on
4/20/2010 1:57:20 PM
Duncan Green.. Keep Drinking the Mo Juice... eventually it will kill you and i can see the effects have started to set in. I can tell becuase your talking unrational and utterly dillusional. RPB and all the other supporters are the best thing that could have happened to this club. IF you need 5 years to make a solid squad then your smoking the green stuff like Mo Jo is becuase if you look at Seattle how many years did they need to get to a playoff (yeah exactly 1 whole season) does that not make you want to puke at how bad this club is managed..
Posted by Deal on
4/20/2010 1:39:54 PM
Preki isn't the man for TFC. Mo has done good, but bad as well. The only decent player preki has braught is Labrocca and maybe Cann. Everything else is just a downgrade from last season.\n\nPeople are so caught up with defence, what about offense? Preki says the offence will come. We got 4 goals from 1 player, 2 of which are from PK. And I wasn't convinced on the philly win.\n\nI'm a die hard TFC fan, but Mo (and Preki) gotta go.
Posted by tfc_king on
4/20/2010 1:02:55 PM
duncan green is clearly not a real TFC fan cuz a real fan would never even think those things red patch boys are a big part of TFC if u gonna rip them then i guess u havent seen wut is happening at old trafford the whole of the fans are protesting buy wearin anti-glazer scarf so check yourself b4 u speak about things u know nothing about MO sucks u say it takes more than 4yrs to build a team dipshit does this look like the leafs.look at seattle sounders went to the playoffs in it first season people like u who are band wagon futbol fans make me sick
Posted by steven on
4/20/2010 4:39:22 AM
personally i see nothing wrong with mo. what i do have aproblem with is preki. one win, and it wasn't pretty. also, i didn't see too much wrong with our team at the end of last season. we finally had a strong looking team, and since preki joined the club that team is in shambles. out with preki and bring back guevara, brennan, robinson, and wynne. and possible serioux but i'm not gonna push that one
Posted by Red Patch Boy on
4/20/2010 2:06:12 AM
^\n|\n|\nSounds like a U-Sector fan!
Posted by Duncan Green on
4/20/2010 12:44:10 AM
The last thing we need to worry about is a dead national team playing more games at BMO..who really cares for the Nats anymore..? Why we need to do is get rid of the Negative attitude of the Red patch boys and they fire Mo now campaign, this is done by people that dont know the game, or how a team is built..they want a winner now..\nGuess what RPB this is not burger king,,who cant have it your way. TFC need leadership from a captain who should be captain..but thats another story, he wouldnt be getting goals at all if were not from penalties or goalkeepers blunders, which brings to mind why is he here, we have not improved with him here..so instead of Mo must go..lets try\nDero must go..sounds better..IMHO.. TFC will be fine going forward, the fans wanted changes and got them, beware what you wish for you just might get them, Marvell Wynne should still be here, maybe Mos one mistake in his role and director of football operations with TFC..Its time the RPB take off their Red tained glasses and realize a winning team takes time and 4 years is not enough..we barely out of the expansion tag..give Mo and the team some time...Real supporters support the club win lose or draw, maybe the RPB will get that through their oversized inflated egos, and just give the club its support.. time will tell
Posted by Jeff on
4/19/2010 11:41:07 PM
Games Sunday

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Lee Godfrey brings an extensive amount of soccer broadcast experience to GolTV where he is the host of the station’s original Canadian news program Extra Time.