THE STARTING 11: Shades of Greg Vanney Pink
You either love him or you loathe him. Actually no. Greg Vanney, as of yet non-embattled TFC head coach, rarely elicits that kind of emotion around these parts. Not good enough to be showered with praise; not bad enough to warrant calls for his dismissal. He’s just kind of there… and that’s ok for now. While our very own “student of the game” may seem plain and dull to many observers there is one thing...
THE STARTING 11: Reasons Why We Appreciated the Kansas City Wizards
A long time ago in a world of Clashes, Burns and even the odd Fusion, existed a soccer team named the Kansas City Wizards. Even better than that, they were originally just the Kansas City Wiz! Wheeeee marketing boffins! This fabled team with their rainbow kits, surly Serbs and cheeky Scots toured the U.S.A. in a league known as MLS 1.0 – good times. Of course, time passes, teams and leagues mature, and the one-time Wiz are now...
THE STARTING 11: Toronto FC Civic Holidays
For a good portion of us in the Toronto FC geographic area, today is a holiday. While generally known across the parts of Canada that participate as a “Civic Holiday” it is more specifically known in Ontario as Simcoe Day. This of course marks the day in the Dark Ages when a magical knight named Barry Simcoe sailed from Olde Englande and landed at Scarborough Bluffs where he slayed The Ice Monster and founded the Town of...
THE STARTING 11: Reasons for Canada Soccer’s Recent Woes
Yes this is primarily a Toronto FC site and yes The Starting 11 is usually Reds or MLS specific but sometimes we have to root around our backyard. Amongst the recent weeds has been a largely mind-numbing journey with Canada Soccer. At press time (I have a fedora – shut it) whole flotillas of men’s and women’s national sides have not only failed to succeed in tournaments, but have managed to only find the net once –...
The Magnificent Morocco? Reds set to move for Ahmed Kantari
While yet to make it through the red-tape and fact-checking officialdom that is MLS and/or TFC press releases, it seems that The Reds are about to bolster their backline. According to the official website of French Ligue 1 (soon to be 2) side RC Lens, that defender is Moroccan international Ahmed Kantari. This signing would also usher in the Atari advertising-based chant “Have You Played Kantari Today?” So good news all...