Toronto FC vs Montreal Impact: Will We See Angry Determined TFC, Or Frustrated, Out Of Ideas TFC?

Posted By Kristin Knowles on Jun 24, 2015 in Match Previews & Reports, Uncategorized | 1 comment

He wasn’t supposed to start scoring goals when he left Toronto!

Tic Tac….ah we know who they are.  One of our biggest rivals (sorry Columbus), the city that we invade en masse for away games, the only other Canadian team that’s allowed to win the Voyageurs Cup and the runaway winner of our highly scientific ‘what is our true derby’ poll.  And right now they are the team that is a mere two points behind Toronto FC in the standings; this can only end badly, right?  So get your ‘Rivalry Week’ (What? It’s a thing.  MLS said so!), game face on and let’s get ready to rumble! Or something – the kids today still rumble, right?

TFC are coming off a disastrous game on Saturday against NYCFC in which they could find no answers to the physical, grinding style that Jason Kreis’ team played.  It was a frustrating game to watch on so many levels; perhaps no more so than realizing that Toronto just couldn’t find a way to respond what NYCFC was doing and gave in to that frustration instead of changing their approach.

This is the last game for almost a month that Greg Vanney will have his first choice lineup at his disposal with an number of players departing for the Gold Cup, so it is imperative that they take maximum points tonight before heading into their match against DC United on the weekend.  Losing Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Ashtone Morgan and Jonathan Osorio for an extended period will be a big test for TFC.

First and foremost Seba is going to have to shake off the knocks and sulleness from Saturday’s game and put on the clinic we’ve seen from him in the past. He’s been held goalless for a couple of weeks now and needs to get back into a rhythm soon.  Tonight’s game will be an opportunity for him to show that he can adapt and truly take his game to opponents; regardless of the situation.  Have to hope that he’s pissed off and will want to make a statement.

Altidore also needs to have a big game – both for TFC but also for a boost heading into the US camp before the Gold Cup. He was pretty much a non entity on the weekend and while part of that has to do with when he was subbed on and coming back from injury, the hope was that he’d impose himself on the game a bit more.  It would be nice to see him start and for he and Seba to do some damage early on in the game.

Things to note from Montreal:

1. They’ve never won a game at BMO

2. They have had serious trouble scoring on the road

3. They have had even more difficulty in defending on the road

4. They have a player that is three guys in one; thereby skirting the roster rules

5. Piatti is dangerous.  Very dangerous. Pay attention to him.

6. Find a way to make Frank Klopas angry; just for shiggles.  He’ll likely get himself thrown out of the game.

7. They’ve won five of their last seven league games.

8.  All of which adds up to them coming in tonight and celebrating St. Jean Baptiste Day in our faces – umm, blessed are the cheesemakers?  I don’t know; it’s a holiday, maybe they’ll be distracted.

9. Dominic Oduro will score.  And then have Papa John’s delivered to the pitch.

Either way it would be far too easy to make assumptions about tonight’s game.   If we see the embarrassed, ticked off TFC; the one that is focused in the attack and works well through the midfield than this could be a lot of fun for Reds’ supporters.  On the other hand –  If every team in MLS took really careful notes of Saturday’s game then we could be in trouble.

If what’s happening on the pitch gets too distressing, just check out the upper deck when it starts to get dark – there are NO lights up there and it is (we assume) a lawless land akin to ‘The Warriors’ trying to get home to Coney Island.   Seriously, take a light, use the buddy system, don’t wander on to the moors – the whole shebang.

Prediction: TFC win 2-0, the Warriors make it home and Oduro chooses pepperoni.