Vocal Minority

Tag: Starting XI

  • THE STARTING 11: Other TFC # 1 Needs

    Clint Eastwood! That guy’s famous! Clint Irwin is MLS famous so that’s cool too. Just when the search for a # 1 goalkeeper started getting hand-wringingly anxious, TFC pulled off a sweet little deal that saw Mr. Irwin take his place in The Reds’ goal. A good deal in most eyes but while this “#…

  • THE STARTING 11: Ways TFC is Turning Japanese

    In the slightly re-arranged words of 80’s “supergroup” The Vapors: “They’re turning Japanese, we think they’re turning Japanese, at least we hope so”. Okay, TFC may not be fully embracing the Land of The Rising Sun quite yet but the 1st Round SuperDrafting of Japan’s own Tsubasa Endoh was manna from podcasting/punning heaven. While the…

  • THE STARTING 11: Broken TFC New Year’s Resolutions

    Happy New Year chums! This one will be different surely! It’s the 10th Anniversary of the local footballer club known as The FC’s don’t ya know?! After watching Michael Bradley’s ball drop on New Year’s Eve, TFC did what many did as 2016 dawned – made a host of resolutions. However, it’s already been 10…

  • THE STARTING 11: Returned TFC Christmas Gifts

    Sorry fans but that most holy of holy days,  Boxing Day,  has come and gone. A big part of celebrating the day when Jesus beat “Smokin’” Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Title, (My history may be shaky. I drank a lot of egg nog. Sue me.), is collecting your gift receipts and returning those unwanted…

  • The Starting 11: Things Toronto has to offer to free agents

    THE STARTING 11: Things Toronto Has to Offer to Free Agents The Off-Season. It’s where Toronto FC are Vikings! As the local foot and ball side aim for the third straight “Off-Season Championship” (to complement their zero on-season championships) we are once again being regaled with the reasons why Toronto, and BMO Field in particular,…

  • THE STARTING 11: TFC Goalkeeping Solutions

    Goalkeepers. Rarely has Toronto FC had one that didn’t depart in odd or controversial circumstances. One wept while only wearing the tiniest of towels. After this season came to a close, most of us expected one of Joe Bendik or Chris Konopka to be jettisoned. So TFC scrapped them both. Ah. Ok then! The “braintrust”…

  • THE STARTING 11: Things Going Under The South Stand

    TFC Twitter had a minor breakdown this past Thursday afternoon when the first photographs of the BMO Field South Stand face-unlift emerged. Where some of TFC’s most vociferous support once stood was instead a random pile of rubble exposing a gaping chasm beneath the remaining seats. What could it mean? Who would dare do this?…

  • THE STARTING 11: Other TFC Statistical Categories

    It’s that most wonderful time of the year! No, not preparing to gift that personalized “MISTA” kit to someone you don’t love, but to turn your bubbling supporter discontent on the team that did you wrong! Yes it’s time to get your petty on in the most democratic way – by ranking every TFC player…

  • THE STARTING 11: Other Key Dates in MLS’ Offseason

    A few days back, Major League Soccer released their calendar of key offseason events. Kudos really to the league for resisting the no doubt burning desire to call it the “OFF! Bug Spray Offseason Calendar” Glad to see some things stay sacred. Keeping fan interest through the post-season is always a challenge and MLS is…

  • THE STARTING 11: Prior TFC Playoff Highlights

    “AT LAST!” was the slightly naval-gazing refrain from TFC brass after qualifying for their first ever playoff berth. Of course the full unedited version was “At last, we can raise ticket prices on you miserable, unwashed rubes!” But for that shoe to drop we had to wait a whole 12 hours after clinching. That’s beside…