East Side Stand Up

However you spin it, there's no positive way to look at dropping all points to a 10-man Seattle Sounders in a 1-0 loss. Going down a man, it looked like Toronto just didn't have any ideas of how to attack the net and take advantage of their extra man.

No seriously. Nothing. You know it's a boring match when the loudest cheering comes when a squirrel runs into the net. A 0-0 draw with the lowly Sporting Kansas City continues to raise questions on the state of the team and what exactly, if anything, has been built in the first three months of the season. Still so much work to do and now it's just a matter of scratching off the days on the calendar until the transfer window and hopefully an impact player comes in to make this team exciting.

There's no way to slice or dice it, this was a brutal outing for Toronto FC in a 6-2 demolition at the hands of the Philadelphia Union. There are few bright spots or positives outside of ten minutes at the start of the second half. It will be a hard one to swallow as the extremely poor back line was exposed and how much work there is still to do with the Reds is now there for all to see. Where do we go from here?

The Reds are bailed out by weather and will live to defend their Championship for another 12 hours! Who knows when this game will be settled? Will it be May 26th at 11am? Will they pitch be playable by then? Either way Toronto will get fight another day. The lads are soaked and the weather and language is foul for this quick pod. Spark has no control over Tim and Stephe. Lots to rant about on East Siiiide!

TFC blow a two goal lead and the exit of MLS Player of the Week Plata was the end of the Red's fight in this game and two goals later, and a massive save from Stefan Frei, TFC finish with a 2-2 draw with Chicago. The first half was something to watch as the Reds dominated but someone needs to once again remind the team that the game is 90 minutes long and players like Alen Stevanovic and Javier Martina need to take advantage of their chances when they get them. Lots to discuss from a disappointing draw and two points dropped.

That is right, the shorter the player, the more TOTAL the football. It's the Joao Plata show as the 5'2 Ecuadorian makes his mark and s statement that he should be in the starting XI. It's hard to argue against as for three starts this year he has linked up well with his teammates and given supporters something and someone to stand up and cheer for. On the other side, Stefan Frei kept the win in check and overall it was one of the best games we've seen in recent memory. It's just Spark and Tim and we stick to the game 100% for the second time this year!

The lads are back from BMO Field where the Reds have advanced past FC Edmonton to the Nutrilite Cup finals! Bring on Vancouver (or Montreal at the time of writing) ***Please note once again we are plagued with technical difficulties and cut the pod short at 18 mins. We will be back in full effect for Saturday's game with all issued resolved!**

The lads are back from BMO Field to deliver an ultra postive podcast where there is NO WHINGING about MLSE, and are so very grateful to be discussing nothing but football for forty minutes. There was plenty to go over on this afternoon; the line up, Toni Tchani's goal and subsequent red card, some nice possession football - many things that looked encouraging and Spark, Stephe and Tim are more than happy to break down the game and gear up for the next few weeks with TFC.

A 3-0 schlacking at the hands of DC United was embarrassing to say the least. Right out of the gate TFC were not in it and after ten minutes is was just a matter of counting down the clock. Not many positives to come out of the game and here's hoping TFC gets it straight this week with Columbus coming to town.

David Beckham's first and probably only Toronto outing in MLS play packed the stadium to the brim, but TFC could not penetrate and get that final chance on goal. Aside from a couple chances, the question now being asked is, really, where are the goals going to come from? Spark, Tim and Steve let 'er loose again on MLSE as games like this make it hard to imagine massive improvements without reinforcements coming in.

It's the first day of post De Ro and the lads talk about what we can look forward to without him on the pitch, which is one big question mark. Maicon Santos all but proved by missing an open net he is not the answer and the Reds dropped 3 very attainable points.

TFC decisively dispatch the expansion Portland Timbers 2-0 in a match that was theirs for the taking. Javier Martina moves from the left side to the right and two goals are the reward. It is three critical points as they won't come easy this season. Spark, Stephe and old school footie supporter Gary Wright are in the house to go over the fine afternoon even if they are still thawing out.

It's the official Pre-Season episode of East Side Stand Up. It's a new season for TFC and the pod, and while the Reds are working it all out, so are we as technical difficulties knock Stephe Perry out of the starting line-up. The lads go over what is in store for 2011 and it's a matter of calling a spade a spade as TFC are likely in for a rough one this year.

Spark and Tim hash out the last month in TFC-land which of course centres around the appointment of Aron Winter and disappearance of Dwayne De Rosario. But most importantly is the lack of substance when it comes to roster depth - what needs to be addressed the most? The lads get it all out before the Reds leave for Turkey and will reconvene when they are back before First Kick.

Well perhaps, as the lads have given some time to let the dust settle, but seeing as it's TFC and MLSE, the dust never really settles. So we go at it - it's the 2010 season in review that ends up being just as much 'the month in review' as well as what Herr Klinsmann will possibly bring to the table. What would be a discussion about TFC without some serious head-shaking about owners, the path this season took under Preki, his eventual sacking and the players that made a forgettable year at least something to look forward to moving forward. Tim is in full bashing mode, Stephe has his talking points written out on seven pages, and Spark watches it all unfold. It's the last pod of 2010 and it won't be long until 2011 so hang tight we'll return in March!

There is still one game to go, but this was the final MLS match at BMO Field for 2010 and it is not far off to say what transpired was a metaphor for the goings-on in the front office of MLSE/TFC. A complete and utter embarrassment where Toronto should have defeated a very ordinary looking Columbus crew but surrendered the tying goal from THE KEEPER in extra time to steal points from the Reds. The lads go through the game but in the end it is too hard not to start looking straight at the upper management at TFC as to how this team has become a failure year after year. As noted, this one is Rated "R", so put the kids to bed or wear a headset as we let them have it for the next forty-five.

The Reds get off to a bad start and were unable to fight back, losing 3-2 to the San Jose Earthquakes. An early penalty put TFC on their heels and at the end of the night, Chris Wondolowski was the man, putting three past Stefan Frei. On a week where Tom Anselmi is trying to justify the ticket price increase, he fails to mention anything about building a winner and perhaps this is why. Looking at year four without a sniff at the playoffs, all that's left is the mathematics to determine what has looked to be the case for the last two weeks. It's breaking down the ninety minutes, some serious whinging, and stern finger pointing at MLSE as who knows when this will turn around for the better.

Well that's that. No more Mo. No more Preki. The writing was on the wall for Mo for quite a while and Preki did himself no favours from the get go. It's an EMERGENCY podcast - no post-game, just Spark and Tim hashing out Mo's tenure and Preki's short term relationship with the club. Jeez, it feels like we just went through this!.

All we are waiting now is for an appearance from Bill Murray. It's groundhog day all over again as Toronto FC drop critical home points, losing 1-0 to DC United to put their post season in jeopardy. It was an ugly affair where had DC had their DP or more clinical finishing, it would have been closer to the NYRB loss. Things are unraveling for Toronto who looked good at one point in the season but have since become anemic and listless. The lads lay it all out like you know they do and try to figure out how we can get out of this situation, not just this season but in the entire organization.

Another home game. Another draw. Another performance that just wasn't good enough. It's hard to fault any of the players for their effort, as every one worked hard and played with energy. Ultimately, this game provided a good comparison between a Real Salt Lake squad that looks to be a genuine MLS contender and a TFC squad that is still a little short on talent. Toronto generated chances and worked very hard, but never really threatened to score. And again and again the touch of the majority of the TFC players was off just enough prevent the team from finding a breakthrough goal. While the starting eleven played a solid but unspectacular game in earning a draw against one of the best teams in the league, the substitutes that came on in the second half both delivered subpar performances that had to disappoint Preki.