Beyond POV-FS – Looking Forward, Looking Back – Can Mark Bloom replace Richard Eckersley at Right-Back? at Waking the Red

    The first of the off-season reflection posts at Waking the Red looking back at the season that was and projecting forward into the upcoming 2014 season.

    The question is whether Mark Bloom can replace the outgoing Richard Eckersley or whether another option will come in.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – The Return of the Prodigal Son: Could De Rosario return to Toronto FC? at Waking the Red

    With today’s Re-entry Draft set to determine the final chapter of one of the more sordid sagas in TFC history, Waking the Red takes a look at the possible reasons that Dwayne De Rosario’s return could be a boon, though of course, there are plenty of risks as well.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS - MLS Week in Review: Playoff Edition – 2013 MLS Cup Final at Canadian Soccer News

    The first post-MLS 2013 weekend has come to pass – miss it yet?

    Relive the glory of a hard-fought final decided via penalty shootout at Canadian Soccer News

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Toronto FC 2013 Top 36 Countdown: Number 8 – Bobby Convey at Waking the Red

    The good folks over at Waking the Red have put in a monumental task with the annual player countdown, finally reaching the top ten last week.

    Bobby Convey’s profile, went up on Monday – check it out

    And be sure to follow the remaining revelations and have a look at the entire countdown

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: MLS Cup Final Flashback Compilation – Sporting KC vs. Real Salt Lake

    With the MLS Cup Final set for Saturday evening, it seemed a good time to provide some links for the extra studious.

    In that vein, here are all of the Know Your Enemy previews for the two teams from the 2013 season. Granted these are a touch dated – especially for Salt Lake (with their only meeting with Toronto coming back in June), but they should still provide a nice overview of the changes to the team, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Sporting KC - Meeting the First; Meeting the Second; Meeting the Third

Real Salt Lake – Part One; Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review: Playoff Edition – Conference Championships, Second Legs at Canadian Soccer News

    With the MLS Cup Final set to kick off on Saturday, why not refresh the mind on how the last round ended by checking out the Week in Review summary at Canadian Soccer News.

    Kansas City overpowered Houston to earn the right to host the final, while Salt Lake dispatched Portland easily after a devastating first-leg performance.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – Toronto FC 2013 Top 36 Countdown: Number 25 – Hogan Ephraim at Waking the Red

    Waking the Red’s annual player countdown, going through every player to take to the pitch for TFC this season is well underway – up to number 17, Jeremy Brockie.

    Hogan Ephraim profile, asking the question of whether he was an unappreciated talent or a wasted loan, went up a week or so ago.

    Check it out – and the rest of the countdown can be found here

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review: Playoff Edition – Conference Championships, First Leg at Canadian Soccer News

    With the second legs set to kick off this evening, seems a perfect time to go back and look over what happened in the first legs some two weeks ago.

    Post is up over at Canadian Soccer News – Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review: Playoff Edition – Conference Semifinals, First and Seconds Legs at Canadian Soccer News

    Full recaps of the four conference semifinals are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Thus far the playoff have been a rollercoaster with the first two rounds packed into a compressed time span while the upcoming international dates are set to distance the two legs of the conference finals by a full two weeks.

    Hardly an ideal situation; the lack of breathing space has been a combination of exhilarating and overwhelming.

    Like a fine wine, sometimes it is better to let a series simmer and there is some fear that the large gaps between rounds will cause the attention to dwindle.

    Anyways, the reviews – First Legs & Second Legs

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review: Playoff Edition – Play-In Round at Canadian Soccer News

    Reviews of the two midweek one-match knockout rounds to decide which of the fourth or fifth place teams would move on to the MLS Conference Semifinals is up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review - Round 35 and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The final regular season review and extended look at the Canadian performances in MLS went up over at Canadian Soccer News earlier this week.

     Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Montreal Impact – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Preview of Saturday’s end of season match between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Can the Reds damage Montreal’s playoff bid? Will it be as crazy a match as the 3-3 back in July?

    Check it out and prepare for the match

Canadian Content MLS Round 34 – How did our Canadians do in MLS this week?

An extension to Canadian Soccer News’ MLS Week in Review, this article provides a closer look at the performances of the Canadian players who saw the pitch this week.

With the MLS regular season schedule winding down, the top three spots this round go to a pair of players who each scored their first MLS goal in the midst of a double-game week – Kofi Opare and Karl W. Ouimette - and to a young man who has found playing time severely limited through his rookie campaign, but impressed on Saturday - Kyle Bekker.

Find out what they did to deserve recognition and who else earned their keep this week.

MLS Week in Review – Round 34

The penultimate round of MLS play took place over the past week and with so many teams already entering playoff mode it comes as no surprise that, aside from a few explosive matches, it was another tightly contested weekend.

Ten matches were played – one each on Wednesday and Friday, six on Saturday, and a pair on Sunday – resulting in just two draws, both scoreless, and a single away victory – with New York exerting their dominance over Houston.

Goals were again in short supply with ten of the 21 scored coming in just two matches, though there were some glorious hits – including the new fastest goal in MLS history, courtesy of New York’s Tim Cahill.

Some 34 yellow cards were flashed, though no reds were shown – when perhaps one or two were called for – but the referees were still involved, awarding four penalty kicks and turning away several other decent shouts.

Before the result, the goals of the round:

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of tomorrow’s match between Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois is up over at Waking the Red.

    All the usual depth and splendor: lineup, form, strengths and weaknesses.

Check it out – and the rest of the preview materials via the Game Hub

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content -- Round 32 at Canadian Soccer News

    Weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The review recaps a scintillating weekend of MLS action – all the late drama and controversy one can handle, while the extended look at Canadian players does what it says on the tin.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Philadelphia Union – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Preview of this evening’s match between Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out – and the rest of the prematch literature

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first is a review of all this weekend’s MLS matches, and the second a detailed summary of the Canadian contributions to the action.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – 2013 MLS Rookie and Newcomer of the Year Award Lists are Out at Waking the Red

    A pair of posts from last week over at Waking the Red, noting the release of MLS candidate lists for two of the upcoming post season awards and pointing out the Toronto FC candidates for each.

    Check them out – Rookie of the Year & Newcomer of the Year

Beyond POV-FS Posterity Edition – Know Your Enemy: DC United – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Forgot to post the link to the preview for Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and DC United at BMO Field over at Waking the Red.

    No need to check it out, just posting for posterity.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    Weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The MLS Week in Review recaps all the action from the latest round of play and focuses on some of the surrounding furour, as well as the play on the pitch – everything one needs to keep up to date.

    The Canadian Content post digs deeper into the individual performances of the Canadian players who took to the field this round – it was a quiet weekend on the whole, but still worth a look.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Sporting KC – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and Sporting KC at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts went up earlier this week at Canadian Soccer News.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New York Red Bull(s) – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Preview of Toronto FC’s upcoming match against New York at Red Bull Arena is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chicago Fire – Meeting the First at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match between Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire at BMO Field – assuming the storm abates – is up over at Waking the Red – the preview is up, the match is in doubt.

    Check it out – Part One and Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Portland Timbers at Waking the Red

    Preview of this evening’s match between Toronto FC and the Portland Timbers at JELD-WEN Field in Portland is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One provides an overview of their lineup and form; while Part Two reviews the game film in search of strengths and weaknesses.

    Check them out – Part One & Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts went up at Canadian Soccer News on Monday and Tuesday.

    The MLS Review covers all the weekend action and highlights some of the major themes emerging from the round.

    While the Canadian Content dissects the contributions from the Canadian players in the league – top spots go to Dwayne De Rosario, Doneil Henry, and Ashtone Morgan this round.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New England Revolution – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match between Toronto FC and the New England Revolution at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out – Let’s Go to the Ex!

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content – Round 26 at Canadian Soccer News

    Weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News, recapping this weekend’s events in MLS.

    The Week in Review recaps all the matches – with highlights – as well as the usual sub-features – goal of the round, sights and sounds, controversy and the like.

    Dwayne De Rosario, Russell Teibert, and Patrice Bernier take the top three spots on the Canadian Countdown.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: DC United – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of Toronto FC’s match against DC United at RFK Stadium in Washington DC is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The MLS Week in Review recaps all the action in MLS – highlights, goals of the round, sights and sounds, table watching, and a look ahead to next weekend.

    Patrice Bernier, Russell Teibert, and Dwayne De Rosario earn top honours on the Canadian countdown, while injury forces Will Johnson to miss his first Timbers match of the season (other than two for which he was away on International duty).

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

POV-FS Out Loud – Anthony Totera’s Red Card on NextSportStar.com

    Anthony was kind enough to have me on his Friday night edition of Red Card to discuss the stretch run towards the MLS playoffs.

    Unfortunately, technical problems derailed the conversation just as things were getting started – thanks, phone – but still, check it out.

    And, as usual, Red Card had some fine guests on this week – as always. The Jimmy Nielsen interview from Thursday is highly recommended.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Columbus Crew – Meeting the Third at Waking the Red

    Preview of Toronto FC’s match at Crew Stadium on Saturday against the Columbus Crew is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – What Just Happened? Toronto v Seattle: The Sounders First Goal – A Slip, a Run, and So Much More at Waking the Red

    A bit of tactical analysis over at Waking the Red, looking at the numerous small errors that led to Seattle first goal on the weekend.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The Week in Review recaps all the weekend action – with video – while also digging a little past the results.

    Jonathan Osorio, Russell Teibert, and Patrice Benier take the top three spots in the rundown of Canadian contributors this round, while midweek exploits in the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League are recounted as well.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

First Person View – Midseason Friendlies should be Celebratory -- Part Three - A Call to Arms

    As a non-member of the supporter’s culture, though perhaps more invested in the fortunes of the team than many, it is not my place to call into question the why’s of how one chooses to support the club.

First Person View – Midseason Friendlies should be Celebratory -- Part Two - What Should Be Done

    With the midweek match against AS Roma in the rearview and Kevin Payne’s comments still simmering, it is a good to time get to the root of this problem.

First Person View – Midseason Friendlies should be Celebratory -- Part One - Why They Aren’t

    The concept of a midseason friendly is simple and admirable enough.

    Bring in a big club, a storied one, somebody the home fans and soccer-aficionados who do not regularly attend matches alike would be interested in seeing.

    Sure, use it as a marketing tool, but also a celebration of how far the game has come in this franchise’s short life.

    With nothing riding on the match, it should be a fun night out, and a chance to just enjoy the game without the stress of points on the line.

    How many times in the life of the average Torontonian does one get the chance to see Francesco Totti – a true legend of the game - live in action? Once, maybe twice?

    But clearly in Toronto, they have become sources of conflict, that vocal minority of Toronto fans, flinching like the spurned lovers that they are, are duly annoyed by these matches; the question is why?

Mail It In Friday Video – North American Soccer Hilarity

    A trio of videos aimed at the soccer fan in North America.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Seattle Sounders at Waking the Red

    The two part preview of Toronto FC’s upcoming match on Saturday against the Seattle Dempseys Sounders at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check them out – Part One: Lineups and Form; Part Two: Game Film & POIs

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts went up at Canadian Soccer News on Monday and Tuesday.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New England Revolution – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of Sunday’s match between Toronto FC and New England Revolution is up over at Waking the Red.

    A solitary installment this time around, it is the second meeting, addressing their recent form, projected lineup, while also looking at their strengths and weaknesses as pertains to goals scored.

    Check it out

Beyond POV-FS - What Just Happened Toronto v Columbus: The Crew’s Opening Goal at Waking the Red

    A tactical discussion surrounding the events that led to Columbus’ goal last weekend, the flaw of the flat midfield when pressing, and a few possible solutions to address that deficiency is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out

First Person View - MLS All-Star Game: The Future Looks Bright (All Youth Teams for Each Conference)

    With everyone suitably aflutter for this evening’s All-Star Game between MLS and AS Roma, I figured I’d kill an hour or so in the process of updating my club roster database – yes, that is something I do (for posterity) – by looking at what the teams may look like if restricted to young players.

    Some have wasted time fretting over the highly-publicized, commercial exercise that is the MLS All-Star Game – did they pick the right players? Who will win? What does a win or loss mean for the league? – But relax; it’s just a bit of fun.

    So - with the caveat that this is a very unscientific process based solely on my own observations and that I will not be investing the time to produce actual stats - what would the game look like if East played West and players had to be 24 year of age or younger.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first is the MLS Week in Review, recapping all the action from the recent round of play, pointing out some of the controversies and highlighting some of the lighter moments from the weekend as well.

    The second is the extended Canadian Content section, focusing on the contributions of the Canadian players in MLS – strong weekends from Jonathan Osorio, Kyle Porter, and Russell Teibert, while Dejan Jakovic and Dwayne De Rosario return to the pitch.

    Check them out – Week in Review & Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Columbus Crew – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content – Round 21 at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The MLS Week in Review recaps the entire weekend – with highlights – as well as drawing attention to some of the swirling talk around the matches.

    The Extended CanCon looks at the performances of the Canadians that took to the pitch this round – plenty on offer with the Gold Cup quest halted prematurely.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

POV-FS Out Loud – Talking the State of All Things Toronto FC on NextSportStar.com’s Red Card with Anthony Totera

    Anthony was kind enough to have me on Monday night to discuss the on-goings at TFC, touching on subjects from Ashtone Morgan, Matias Laba, the pitch at BMO Field, the rumoured arrival of Diego Forlan and much more.

    It was a jam-packed show, featuring a trio of players - Eric Avila, Robert Earnshaw, and Dax McCarty – Paul Attfield of The Globe & Mail, and myself, clearly bringing it all together at the end of the show as the key interview.

    Be sure to check it out, follow Anthony and the network, NextSportStar, on twitter, and keep an eye out for the show every weeknight at 7 pm EST.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New York Red Bull at Waking the Red

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Chivas USA at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match between Toronto FC and Chivas USA at the recently re-christened StubHub Center in Los Angeles is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and form heading into the match, while Part Two reviews the game film in search of strengths and weaknesses.

    Check them out – Part One and Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content for Round 20 at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up at Canadian Soccer News.

    The MLS Week in Review recaps a scintillating weekend of MLS results – goals of the round, some humourous sights, the odd quote or two, and highlights, precious, precious highlights.

    With so many of the league’s Canadians away at the Gold Cup only Patrice Bernier saw the pitch this round; he may have wished he did not.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Sporting KC – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    A previewing of Toronto FC’s Saturday match against Sporting KC in Kansas City is up over at Waking the Red.

    The second of three meetings between the two sides, Sporting enters with revenge on their mind, hoping to avenge their 2-1 loss at the SkyDome back in March.

    Lots to discuss, check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – What Just Happened? The Turning of the Tide at Waking the Red

    After a long hiatus – who wants to keep reading about conceding late goals over and over again –  Waking the Red's What Just Happened has returned. In this series a moment or series of moments that helped determine the outcome of a Toronto FC match are analyzed.

    This edition looks at the two quick goals that Montreal scored in the second half of last Wednesday’s match, allowing them to draw back level after falling behind 3-1.

    So what just happened?

    Read on to find out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts went up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first is an extensive Week in Review, recapping all the MLS action from a very busy week. The second digs a little deeper in the performances of Patrice Bernier and Kyle Porter, as well as the implications of extended injury absences for Dwayne De Rosario and Nana Attkora.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – The Canadian MLS Contingent in Three Parts at Canadian Soccer News

    A detailed look at the half-season achievements of the MLS Canadians with the Gold Cup squad as a backdrop.

   Part One focuses on the starts that have emerged in the MLS season – Will Johnson, Russell Teibert, Jonathan Osorio, etc. – who were selected to the squad.

    Part Two looks at the major omissions – Dwayne De Rosario, Patrice Bernier, Kyle Porter, and Dejan Jakovic – theorizing why they may have been left out, and where their future with the National Team lies.

    While Part Three discusses the fringe players, who have seen limited MLS action, but may play a larger role in the future.

From a Different Point of View – The Home of Caribbean Football Previews the Gold Cup

    My friends at The Home of Caribbean Football posted the second half of their mammoth Gold Cup preview.

    An overview of each participating nation’s outlook entering the tournament and a few words from an insider on their aspirations and expectations; it is well worth the time.

    The Caribbean region and CONCACAF in general is one of the few under-reported realms in this global game - plenty of wild stories and wily characters.

    Check it out – Part One and Part Two

    And be sure to follow them on twitter

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Montreal Impact – Meeting the Second (In the League) at Waking the Red

    Preview of tonight’s match, looking at Toronto FC’s opponent, Montreal Impact, is up over at Waking the Red.

    Reviewing the last meetings – in league and the Voyageurs Cup, looking over their recent form, and highlighting a few strengths and weaknesses that have emerged over the season.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The weekly MLS review and extended Canadian Content posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    A recap of a particularly crazy weekend of MLS action, including all the video highlights and a fair share of controversy; while three Gold Cup absentees – Dwayne De Rosario, Kyle Porter, and Patrice Bernier – are discussed as the top three performers, in part due to that absence.

    Check them out – MLS Review and Canadian Content

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Real Salt Lake at Waking the Red

    Preview of Toronto FC’s weekend opponent, Real Salt Lake, is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One focuses on their lineup and form, while Part Two reviews the game film for strengths and weaknesses, as well as highlighting some points of interest.

    Check them out – Part One and Part Two.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

The usual pair of weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News – the MLS Week in Review, looking at all the action from Round Seventeen of MLS play and the detailed Canadian Content post expanding on the contributions of Canadians in the league this round.

Check them out – MLS Review; CanCon.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Houston Dynamo – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of Toronto FC’s match on Saturday against Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Paul Mariner Reveals the Details of his Scouting Network, Bombast at Toronto FC, and a Lack of Respect at Waking the Red

    A post over at Waking the Red yesterday, using a few loose words from Mariner on ESPN’s Press Pass as the launching point for a discussion on the culture of over-the-top rhetoric at TFC and why such throw away lines seem to resonate more than the accomplishments of the people who make them.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual pair of weekend review posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first, a general review of all the weekend action and the second a detailed look at the Canadian performances of the week with Dwayne De Rosario, Russell Teibert, and Nana Attakora taking the top three spots in the first round of the season to feature at least one Canadian in each match.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review; Canadian Content.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: DC United at Waking the Red

    Two posts in the Know Your Enemy series, previewing Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and DC United at RFK Stadium, are up over at Waking the Red.

    The first looks at their lineup and form, while the second reviews game film and highlights some points of interest.

    Check them out – Part One & Part Two

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual weekly posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News. Portland nabs the goal of the round, while Russell Teibert, Kyle Porter, and Will Johnson earn the top three spots in the Canadian rundown.

    Check the out – MLS Review & CanCon.

Are Late Allowances Solely a TFC problem?

    Having looked at the nine goals Toronto FC has allowed in the final quarter of an hour, if only superficially, yesterday – further investigation is definitely warranted, perhaps there will be time next week – today the question is whether this is a TFC problem alone or an affliction of MLS?

Toronto FC's Late Goals - Torturous Viewing and Time for a Change

    Toronto FC has conceded nineteen goals this season, nine of which have come in the final fifteen minutes of matches.

    Here are all nine of those late goals: not recommended viewing for those with weak constitutions.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review & Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual pair of posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News – the MLS Review and Canadian Content.

    Check them out – Review; CanCon.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Philadelphia Union – Meeting the Second at Waking the Red

    Preview of this weekend’s match between Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union at BMO Field on Saturday is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The usual pair of posts went up at Canadian Soccer News early this week, reviewing the weekend that was in MLS and digging a little deeper into the Canadian performances contained therein.

    Check them out – MLS Week in Review and Extended CanCon.

POV-FS Out Loud – The Canadian National Team Squad on Anthony Totera’s Red Card

    Anthony was kind enough to have me back on the show last Friday to discuss the inexperienced squad called in for this evening’s friendly against Costa Rica in Edmonton.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New England Revolution Series at Waking the Red

    A pair of posts previewing Toronto FC’s upcoming match at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution on Saturday is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and recent form; Part Two reviews game film for strengths and weaknesses.

POV-FS Mail It in Friday Video – Herbert Zimmerman & the Miracle of Berne

I’ve been reading up on my German fussball history of late – timely, given this weekend’s big all-German encounter in the UEFA Champions League Final - and so this week’s random video clip is a moment of lore from the Miracle of Berne, Germany’s first World Cup victory back in 1954 against Ferenc Puskas's Mighty Magyars; a goal call to be more precise.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Extended Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The pair of weekly posts looking back at the past weekend in MLS went up earlier this week at Canadian Soccer News.

    The first, a general review of the matches and the second looking an in-depth look at the Canadian players who took to the pitch, with Kyle Porter and Will Johnson – the goal-scorers, earning special recognition.

    Check them out – Review and CanCon

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Columbus Crew at Waking the Red

    The first two installments of the Know Your Enemy preview series, focusing on Toronto FC’s upcoming opponent, Columbus Crew, who come to BMO Field on Saturday afternoon, are up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and form.

    Part Two goes over game film for strengths and weaknesses, pertaining to goals for and against, as well as a few points of interest.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 11 and Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    A pair of posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News, the weekly review of MLS action and the special, in depth, Canadian section; a particular long one this week.

    Check them out – Review and CanCon.

POV-FS Out Loud – Anthony Totera’s Red Card on NextSportStar.com

    I’ve been fortunate enough to be a guest on Mr. Totera’s show, Red Card, on the NextSportStar network twice over the past week or so, talking Toronto FC, Voyageurs Cup, Montreal Impact, and Canadians in MLS.

    The archived show from last Wednesday - May 1st - can be found here: live from Stade Saputo – completely unaware of what was about to unfold – to talk Voyageur’s Cup, Montreal’s priorities, and Canadians throughout the league.

    And yesterday - May 9th - here: attempting to dissect what ails TFC.

    Give them a listen and be sure to tune in live each week day at 7 pm when Anthony talks to the great and the good of the local, national, and wider soccer scenes.

    Get involved by calling the phone lines, toll free, at: 1(888)999-5880 and follow Anthony and the network on twitter for updates on upcoming guests.

    If I’m not mistaken tonight’s show will discuss grassroots soccer, don’t miss it.

POV-FS Mail It in Friday Video – Alexi Lalas on Fantasy Football League’s Phoenix from the Flames

    Reviving a lost feature – our dive into the glory that is YouTube for random clips from the footballing world.

    As I drifted off to sleep late last night, watching some old Fantasy Footbal League, I stumbled across this gem – Alexi Lalas recreating his goal against England from 9 June, 1993; the US went on to win the match 2-0.

   It was the USA Cup, a now-defunct invitational tournament hosted by the USSF (United States Soccer Federation).   

    The hair, the goatee, brings me back to USA'94; a pivotal moment in my football fandom. Enjoy.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Canadian Content at Canadian Soccer News

    The second installment of a new weekly feature, recapping the weekend that was for the Canadians in MLS is up over Canadian Soccer News.

    Will Johnson, Nana Attakora, and Russell Teibert take top honours this week.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: San Jose Earthquakes at Waking the Red

    A pair of posts previewing – alliteration, eh? – Toronto FC's match against the San Jose Earthquakes tonight at Buck Shaw Stadium are up over at Waking the Red.

    Check them out – Part One and Part Two.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 10 at Canadian Soccer News

    Review of this weekend’s MLS action is up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Colorado Rapids – Parts One & Two

    Preview of this evening’s match between Toronto FC and Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is up over at Waking the Red.

    Part One looks at their lineup and form, while Part Two goes over game-film in search of strengths and weaknesses.

    Check them out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review: Round 9 and Canadian Content: How Did Our Canadians Do in MLS This Week are up over at Canadian Soccer News

    A pair of MLS posts are up over at Canadian Soccer News, the MLS weekend review and the extended subsection following the play of the Canadians in the league.

    Check them out – MLS Review and Canadian Content.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: New York Red Bull – Parts One & Two

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and New York is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check them out – One & Two

Beyond POV-FS – Voyageur’s Cup: Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact – Pre-Match Notes at Waking the Red

    Some assorted notes, videos, and links previewing tonight’s match between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red, in lieu of the usual Know Your Enemy feature.

    Check it out.

Toronto FC – The Voyageur's Cup: Another Chance to Injure the Opponent’s Centre-Back

    On the eve of the 2013 edition of the Voyageur’s Cup, it seemed a good time to bring up a peculiar development over the first two MLS clashes between the Canadian clubs.

    Toronto FC has been responsible for key personnel losses to their opposition.

    In the opening match against Vancouver, it was Jay DeMerit who went down a mere eight minutes into the contest with an Achilles injury. In Montreal, it was Alessandro Nesta who left the fray, lasting slightly long, after eleven minutes with a muscle concern.

    Neither injury was the result of dangerous or overly-aggressive play, DeMerit went up for an aerial challenge with Robert Earnshaw, landing awkwardly and rupturing the tendon. Nesta, lunged to get his head on the end of an Earnshaw cross in the first minute of play, hitting the turf-hardened ground knee first, presumably jarring his muscle in the process.

    Earnshaw, one of the newest members of the club, was the protagonist – antagonist? Suppose it depends from which side one observes – in both cases; not through foul play, but through a tenacity that has helped define the new reiteration of the club.

    In truth, DeMerit should never have been risked, having been troubled by tendonitis in the area throughout preseason. And Nesta, well, his ability to stay fit for an entire season – and his importance to the side – has been questioned repeatedly.

    Both injuries were eventualities, but curious that fate would strike when confronted by TFC.

    Matteo Ferrari, Montreal’s other high-profile, experienced centre-back, had the good sense to get himself injured, meaning he will likely miss the series.

    But what odds on the fit-again Nesta, should he feature in either match, not lasting the full match, let alone the first half?

    Heading into the Voyageur’s Cup, Toronto has some additional voodoo over their Canadian rivals. To many it is baffling that a club that has struggled so mightily throughout its existence has maintained their run of four straight national titles against seemingly superior opposition - opposition perhaps better constructed and more eager for a chance at regional glory, well, regional play.

    As stated before, this year’s rendition of the four-team tournament looks set to be the best ever, with all three MLS teams seriously contesting the championship – Edmonton is unfortunately an afterthought at this point, though an upset of Vancouver in the first round - ahem, semifinals - would provide some much-needed drama on the Western side of the country.

    While this may be one of the smaller national cup competitions in the world and one of the newer ones, as well, it always manages to provide some drama and more than a few talking points to those who take the time to follow its, albeit, brief progress.

    It all kicks off tomorrow night (Wednesday, April 24th) with Toronto hosting Montreal and Edmonton welcoming Vancouver with the return legs to be played a week later (Wednesday, May 1st).

    If possible, get out to a match, if not, be sure to tune in on television. In the future, these years will be the basis of a grander competition and a part of national heritage and pride. May as well get in on the ground floor, eh?

    Sportsnet will be airing both matches on their regional channels; with Toronto-Montreal kicking off at 7:30 pm EST and Edmonton-Vancouver at 9:30 pm EST.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review and Canadian Content Subsection at Canadian Soccer News

    A pair of posts up over at Canadian Soccer News yesterday.

    First, the standard MLS Weekend Review, results, videos, a peculiar goal of the round, and some other notes from the weekend.

    Second, an extended look at the Canadian on-pitch contributions – top three performers: Nana Attakora, Will Johnson, and Dejan Jakovic.

Beyond POV-FS – Pre-Match Notes – Toronto FC vs. the Houston Dynamo at Waking the Red

    Some last-minute notes prior to this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and the Houston Dynamo at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Houston Dynamo at Waking the Red

    Preview of Saturday’s match at BMO Field between Toronto FC and the Houston Dynamo is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – What Just Happened? Toronto FC @ Philadelphia – The Union’s Late Game-Tying Goal at Waking the Red

    Detailed analysis of the late-goal conceded by Toronto FC at Philadelphia on Saturday is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV–FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 7 at Canadian Soccer News

    Review of this past weekend’s MLS action is up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Canadian content, video highlights, Will Johnson’s free-kick, Alan Gordon’s slur, and more; all the sights and sounds from another round of MLS play.
   
    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Pre-Match Notes- Toronto FC at Philadelphia Union at Waking the Red

    Some additional pre-match notes prior to the match between Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park this afternoon is up over at Waking the Red; a supplement to the Know Your Enemy feature.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Philadelphia Union at Waking the Red

    Preview of tomorrow’s match between Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park in Philly is up over at Waking the Red.

    A projected lineup, recent form, etc. – all the good stuff.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 6 at Canadian Soccer News

    Review of Round Six of MLS play is up over at Canadian Soccer News, featuring video highlights, goal of the round, results in brief, Canadian content, and a few other juicy tidbits.
   
    All one needs to keep up with the weekly goings on.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS - Pre-match Notes – TFC vs. FC Dallas at Waking the Red

    Some additional notes prior to the match between Toronto FC and FC Dallas at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red as a supplement to the Know Your Enemy feature.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: FC Dallas at Waking the Red

    Preview of Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and FC Dallas at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Good Listens – MLS Podcast Round-Up

    Highlighting a trio of North American podcasts from the past week or so:

Beyond POV-FS - MLS Week in Review – Round 5 at Canadian Soccer News

    Review of this past weekend’s MLS action is up over at Canadian Soccer News, including a spotlight on Canadian Content and all the highlight videos one could ask for.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Los Angeles Galaxy at Waking the Red

    Preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and the LA Galaxy at BMO Field is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

    NB: I wasn’t bold enough to predict minutes for Landon Donovan in the official preview, but do not be overly surprised if he makes a cameo appearance in the matchday eighteen.

Beyond POV-FS - Ashtone Morgan – Defensive Troubles or Room to Grow? at Waking the Red

    New post looking at Ashtone Morgan’s early season struggles is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

MLS Referee Watch – Round Four

    With the fourth weekend of MLS matches having passed, it’s time to check up on the continued development of the referees.

Good Listens – MLS Podcast Round-Up

    A new feature to POV-FS highlighting a trio of must-hear North American podcast gold from the past few days:

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 4 at Canadian Soccer News

    Review of the fourth weekend of MLS action is up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – What Just Happened? Toronto at Montreal – The Impact’s Second Goal and Dunfieldinho at Waking the Red

    A look at the beautiful bit of passing that led to Montreal’s second goal against Toronto on the weekend and a passage of attacking class from Terry Dunfield is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

MLS Red Card Watch – Salazar and Chivas

    Last week POV-FS, alerted by a lack of red cards through two weeks, theorized that MLS had instructed its officials to be more lenient on the field and allow the Disciplinary Committee to handle any serious infractions in an effort to spare any mistakes from ruining matches.

    Finally, in the last match of Round Three on Sunday, the first red card of the 2013 season was shown by referee Ricardo Salazar to Chivas USA in their derby against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

    And, of course, it was controversial.

First Person View - Toronto FC Pays Tribute to Torsten Frings

    Toronto FC paid a unique tribute to their retired captain, Torsten Frings, on the occasion of their first home match of the season against Sporting KC a week or so ago.

Beyond POV-FS – MLS Week in Review – Round 3 at Canadian Soccer News

    Review of all the matches from round three – rivalry week – of MLS is up over at Canadian Soccer News.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Montreal Impact at Waking the Red

    A preview of this afternoon’s match between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact at the Olympic Stadium is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS - Repeated Slow Starts to the Second Half Will Prove Costly for Toronto FC at Waking the Red

     A post from earlier today, looking at Toronto FC’s inability to return from half-time with the same energy that they begin the match is up over at Waking the Red.

    Do check it out.

The Lack of Red Cards Thus Far in MLS

    Over the course of the first two weeks of the 2013 MLS season an interesting trend has begun to develop: 17 matches have been played and yet, no – 0 – red cards have been issued.

Beyond POV-FS - MLS Week in Review - Round 2 at Canadian Soccer News

    This week’s installment of the weekly MLS review is up over at Canadian Soccer News, now with at least fifty-percent more El Chelis.

    Check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Sporting KC at Waking the Red

    Preview of tomorrow’s TFC match against Sporting KC at the Rogers Centre (SkyDome) is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

First Person View - Will Toronto FC Regret Letting Go of Joao Plata?

    It should come as no surprise that we here at POV are big fans of the little Ecuadorean sparkplug.

    His departure from the club last season, on loan to LDU Quito following a rather bizarre series of announcements and denials, was a blow to the morale of Toronto fans who held the diminutive speedster in high regard.

    Given the way the club responded to his forcing of the move – he prematurely announced his return to his homeland on twitter – it was always evident that Plata would never again be seen in the club’s colours at BMO Field.

    The question at hand, I suppose, is did the club receive too little from Real Salt Lake - only a second-round pick in the 2015 SuperDraft - in return?

Beyond POV-FS: MLS Week in Review - Round 1 at Canadian Soccer News

    Proud to announce the first installment of a new weekly feature over at Canadian Soccer News detailing the events of the weekend’s MLS fixtures and highlighting the contributions of Canadians on the pitch.

    Check it out.

    A note, nearing the second anniversary of launch-day this is the 400th post at Partially Obstructed View; a brief pause to recognize the milestone.

    Now, back to work.

Beyond POV-FS: What Just Happened? Dropping Behind the Line at Waking the Red

    A new feature at Waking the Red, post-Toronto FC matches, where a single moment is analyzed in depth.

    This week, we have a look at the play that created Gershon Koffie’s strike in the 1-0 losing effort in Vancouver.

    Check it out.

First Person View – Are You Ready? Media Guides, Injury Reports and Fantasy Football

    With first kick of First Kick barely an hour away – Philadelphia hosts Kansas City at 4 pm EST – there are a few topics on my mind before the action gets underway.

Foresight – MLS Weekend Preview: Round One

    Four questions to be answered on the opening weekend of MLS action.

Beyond POV-FS – Know Your Enemy: Vancouver Whitecaps at Waking the Red

    Well folks, it’s that time of year again; being the eve of the start of the 2013 season, now seems as good a time as any to beginning the task of previewing Toronto FC upcoming MLS opponents.

    First up, as Ryan Nelsen and Kevin Payne seek to instill a little bit of pride into the rag that has become the butt of jokes around the league, are the Vancouver Whitecaps.

    The preview is up over at Waking the Red, do check it out.

Beyond POV-FS – Toronto FC Depth Chart: Digging a Little Deeper at Waking the Red

    An in-depth look at Toronto FC’s on pitch options for the start of the season is up over at Waking the Red.

    Check it out.

MLS 2013 Preview – The Big Questions: Eastern Conference

    While most folks are busy foretelling and projecting just how this season will play out, we – the royal we – here at POV-FS prefer to offer you questions.

    Each offseason MLS clubs undergo radical player overhauls, in part necessitated by the restrictions of the salary cap and roster spots.

    As such, sometimes it can take weeks - or months - before a club’s true nature presents itself. Some clubs will not have their rosters sorted until the midway point and with the nature of playoffs being what they are, it may not matter how things began, only how they end.

    Remember, prediction makes fools of us all; so, on with the questions.

    In this installment: the Eastern Conference.

Beyond POV-FS – TSG’s 2013 MLS Preseason Prediction Preview – Part II

    Part II of The Shin Guardian's wide-ranging preview looks at the MLS Cup Winner; Rookie of the Year; best goalkeeper; best American and most Un-American player; best African contribution; most unnecessarily physical and most annoying players; best Canadian team not playing in Canada; outrageous predictions and a host of other entertaining topics.

    Check it out, you will not regret it.

A Quick Glimpse – Canadian Notes on Will Johnson, Gershon Koffie, TFC Kit Launch and the U-20’s

Notes on Will Johnson, Gershon Koffie, the TFC Kit Launch and the U-20 Loss to the USA

First Person View – The End of Frings

    Yesterday, after months of speculation, Toronto FC’s captain Torsten Frings announced his retirement after a glittering eighteen-year career in the game.

    Such occasions are always bittersweet; time to celebrate the good, lament the loss, and look to the future.

    For Torsten, it begins a second act to his career in the game; for the club it was the turning of yet another unfinished page. It would be grandiose to proclaim it the end of an era, but in many ways, it was.

What Ever Happened To … Cuba’s Toronto Defectors

    In homage to MLSsoccer.com ‘What Ever Happened To…” series, an update on one of the more intriguing stories Canadian soccer endured in 2012.

    Toronto was captivated when Canada’s World Cup Qualification match against Cuba last October began with the announcement, well not quite that official, that several players – news reports oscillated from seven to four to three - defected prior to kickoff.

    The prematch buzz quietly faded after the initial flurry, but now several months later one of those who chose to start a new life has surfaced on the pitch.

Beyond POV-FS – TSG’s 2013 MLS Preseason Predicition Preview – Part I of II

    POV returns from its offseason torpor - long overdue, by the way - with a contribution to The Shin Guardian’s 2013 MLS Preseason Prediction gambit.

    Part I looks at Supporter’s Shield Winners; Overrated, Improved and Underrated Players; Coach and Anti-Coach of the Year; and a few other useful tidbits.

    Predictions make fools of us all…

    Do go check it out, and keep an eye for Part II due in the coming days.

Should Toronto FC Fans Be Worried About the Club's Lack of a Preseason?

    In last season’s exit interviews, many players associated the failings of the club with the lack of a testing and thorough preseason.

    With the first few weeks of preparation for the 2013 campaign having come and gone, it seems a good time to ponder whether anything has changed.

Can We Play You Every Week? Canada vs. the USA – A Burgeoning Rivalry

    On the eve of another friendly between the Canadians and their neighbours to the south, the Americans, it seems the perfect time to ponder why these two countries do not make use of their proximity more often.

Where Are They Now? Former Reds Gargan, Harden, LaBrocca, Avila, Sturgis, Harmse, and Ricketts Find New Homes

    In the latest installment of ‘Where Are They Now’ several of the MLS-journeymen type players - and one very special footballer - who have donned the Red of Toronto FC find themselves in new surroundings with the North American season approaching in commence.

Beyond POV-FS – TSG’s USA vs. Canada Preview: Klinsmann On Border Patrol at The Shin Guardian

    A small contribution to The Shin Guardian’s preview of tomorrow’s match between the USA and Canada in Houston, Texas went live earlier this morning.

    In it an estimation of the scope of the project that faces the Canadian program, a look at the squad available, notes from the match against Denmark, and of course, a ton of information on their opponents, the Americans, courtesy of the fine folks at TSG.

    Check it out and see what rests in store for the Canadians against an MLS-heavy camp cupcake American side.

From a Different Point of View - Babayele Sodade Passes on National Team Camp from SoundersFC.com

    A piece up over at the Sounders team website indicates that Babayele Sodade, the towering forward who injured his knee – torn ACL - with the Olympic squad back in March of 2012, turned down an invitation to the national team’s January camp.

From a Different Point of View - Will Johnson Interview at PortlandTimbers.com

    There is an interesting interview with Will Johnson up over at the Portland Timbers website.

Where Are They Now? Joseph Nane & Demitrius Omphroy

    We here at POV-FS are always keen to spot former Toronto FC players – and there are quite a few of them – in our search for news.

    In that spirit, Joseph Nane and Demitrius Omphroy have been named as preseason trialists for DC United as the club begins its training camp in Bradenton, Florida.

POV-FS On The Road – England (Again) & Scotland – Days One & Two: Travel & Preparations

    It’s that time of year again.

    Hello and welcome to the introductory installment of the second annual POV-FS ‘On the Road’ World Football Tour. Yes, “World” is a little grand for another trip to the United Kingdom, but hey, you never know where these travels may take us in the future, so may as well think big.

    For now, while I dust up on my comprehension of other languages, these English speaking – more-or-less - nations will have to suffice.

    With the MLS season stretching further into the winter months and MLS Cup scheduled for the first of December, I decided it was wise to wait until the Christmas season – and its subsequent fixture pile-up – to plan this year’s tour.

    Last year’s voyage was immense fun, but the backlog of missed matches, a bulging PVR, and piles upon piles of reading that awaited my return is still being dealt with to this day, and so, the choice to travel when most other leagues went on their winter hiatus, and MLS entered its post-season torpor, made the most sense.

    Departing on the twenty-seventh of December and set to return on the eighth of January, we here at POV-FS began our journey.

Where Are They Now? Fuad Ibrahim

    When last Ibrahim popped his head above the parapet the former Toronto FC and Generation Adidas striker had joined Minnesota Stars FC of NASL at the start of the 2012 season.

POV-FS Mail It In Friday Video – Commercials

    Having previously promised to have the recap of POV-FS’s British Tour already posted – it will now begin on Monday; thought it wise to let the draft get out of the way first – we’ll begin with a few of the more entertaining commercials on offer while watching matches on television over there.

Toronto FC Draft Day - Allocation, Allocation, Allocation

    While watching the draft unfold yesterday, one could be forgiven for getting agitated at the peculiar – if brilliant – moves made by the TFC front office.

    Allowing the more high-profile potential to pass on by while collecting nebulous amounts of allocation money and grabbing the top two Canadian talents can be viewed as a missed opportunity, a waste of such a vaulted starting position – having initially held the first and third-overall picks, or as a small victory in the uphill battle that will see the club finally become relevant in the league.