East Side Stand Up

Toronto FC are downed 1-0 to FC Dallas and their season continues to stall as momentum is eluding them time and time again. Even with the CCL in the rear view mirror, the team is lacking fitness, a healthy roster and a level of cohesiveness to compete against the best teams in the league. Giovinco had another night where he just was inches away from goals but could not convert, and overall the team lacked the final touch to at the very least get a goal.

Toronto locks down the scoreline as local boys Jay Chapman and Ryan Telfer lift the Reds to a critical 2-1 win over Orlando City. It was an emerging display from Telfer who has been getting minutes, but this was his breakthrough performance where he took advantage of a weak side of the pitch and created chance after chance until he scored the winning goal. Chapman as well has been looking good and notched the opener that was set up by Tosaint Ricketts. With the win, TFC earned an essential three points that keeps them out of the basement of the Eastern Conference.

SEEING RED! More dropped points by TFC and a Giovinco red card - can it get any worse?! A 3-2 loss to the New England Revolution did nothing to reinstill any confidence, and what positive seen in the second half were undone by Seba's straight red. We discuss the card, the million dollar man Ager Aketxe, any positives on the night and the question beginning to be floated around TFC-land: are Toronto already outside of the playoff hunt?

Toronto has the CCL in the rear view mirror and we can now look at a 3-0 result with nothing else on the horizon but MLS play. A win over Philadelphia was much needed after dropping points last weekend against Chicago, and with key players missing, the rest of the side stepped up. Giovinco, Osorio, Vasquez and then Chapman took care of business for TFC to comfortably dispatch an underwhelming Union team. It was important to get three points as tougher opposition is ahead, specifically this Wednesday against Seattle.

That is what we are left with after a gutting 2-1 loss to CD Guadalajara in the Champions League - the opponent who was supposed to be the easiest of the three faced thus far. It was an off night all around as the Reds didn't have that edge we saw against Tigres and América, and two lapses were all it took to score goals for Chivas. Now it's all on the away leg to see if MLS can finally lift the trophy.

Yes, it's TFC's CCL side, and until the championship round is over, we will be seeing another side, who were game but unable to get the better of the Colorado Rapids in a 2-0 away loss. It was a CanCon roster, allowing the youth to be on display and give us a glimpse of future potential. There was plenty of positives, however, the overall performance looked out of sync and not to the standard we are used to with our top XI. It's a forgettable result and one that has to be weighed and considered with a CONCACAF title on the line over the next week.

Toronto FC are in the driver's seat, however, a 3-1 win over Club América is not enough an advantage heading down to Mexico for the second leg in the CONCACAF Champions League. It will be a tough return leg, but right now we are going over one of the best nights at BMO as the Reds dispatched another Liga MX giant in slaying Club América through goals from Giovinco, Jozy and Ashtone Morgan. It was another uplifting performance from a team who are really starting to look like the best team in the region.

That is all we've been waiting for this season, yes, a win is great, but a win that secures us, the supporters, a much deserved cheese or pepperoni slice, is a long time coming. Our hunger now satiated we can look back on a TFC performance that met the standard set in 2017 where they dominated opposition at home, and in this instance took out Real Salt Lake 3-1. Now Toronto have only a minute to breathe before the next round of the Champions League as they face Mexican giants Club America.

Oh yes, the Reds have yet to kick start their 2018 MLS campaign despite excitement in the CONCACAF Champions League. A 1-0 loss to rivals Montreal Impact was a disappointment, but the first two matches in MLS do have asterisks that should be considered. The Champions League looms with Club America on the horizon, as well as Real Salt Lake leading into that match. We break down the loss, the landscape of the first month of the season and look ahead to where the Reds sit now at 0-2 in league play.

YES, the TFC we've had to wait... well, three games to see, this season finally showed up and put in they type of performance you'd expect from a top side in CONCACAF. At home, against arguably the best team in the region, UANL Tigres, the Reds came back from a poor first half as well as going a goal down to complete the comeback and win 2-1. Now, the real challenge is ahead as they must travel to Monterrey, Mexico, for the return fixture and see if the club can continue to make history.

Good grief the Reds did not look the part as they were shut out by the Columbus Crew in the season opener at BMO Field, Toronto has their chances, but could not convert, while the Crew brought pressure and finishing, which made the difference in the 2-0 scoreline. Something just looked off, first starting with an awful pitch, but the players didn't step on the field with something to prove like we saw in 2017. To be fair, it is only match one, and it is a blunt reminder of what is in store for the reigning champions this year and they will need to be even more determined if they are to repeat in 2018.

That's right the big ONE OH - ESSU back for 2018 and looking ahead to another big year for the Reds. The Champions League has kicked off and Toronto are already up 2-0, so that is weighed in as Aaron Neilsen and I give our thoughts on the team, considering players gone and new ones signed. We weigh in on who to watch for in MLS and then what the expectations should be for the season.

Another year and Prospect XI's Aaron Neilsen and I attended the Sigma Showcase to check out some of the top youth talent in the GTA. Surrounding that event is the MLS SuperDraft and upcoming 2019 season of the Canadian Premier League. We discuss everything youth development in the region, as well as with Toronto FC and their draft picks, and finish off with an interview with Bobby Smyrniotis, the Technical Director at Sigma, about the showcase, the academy and future of Canadian Soccer.

2017 = Best Season Ever and in truth we are still buzzing weeks later on what a campaign it was for Toronto FC. Sitting with some familiar voices from ESSU we look back on the season that was, starting with December 9, then running through the year, playoffs and finishing up with our Player of the Year. Finally, it's now 2018 and what can TFC do for an encore? Champions League? MLS Cup X2? Lots to discuss on the 2017 TFC Year in Review.

TFC MLS CUP CHAMPIONS! BEST TEAM EVER! BEST SEASON EVER! REVENGE FOR 2016!! JOZY T.O. TILL HE DIES!! WHAT. A. NIGHT!!! Ok caps lock break for now. Phew!! Toronto FC take care of business and put behind them the 2016 Final to decimate and dominate the Seattle Sounders in the replay. What a match - every player did their part and even depth players elevated their game for a near flawless display that saw Toronto have all the chances and Seattle simply exist for ninety minutes. Savour this win as it will never get better than this!

Yes, we are right back on the pod - Aaron Neilsen and Ian Clarke to get ready for this year's MLS Cup Final. We start off by taking a quick look back on the Eastern Conference Final against Columbus, specifically highlighting Michael Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, Victor Vasquez and Jozy Altidore and pitting them against what the Seattle Sounders have to offer. How will they match up head to head, what will Seattle bring to the table and who are the favourites to lift the Cup?

Yes, Toronto FC, once again Eastern Conference champions, once again will be facing off against the Seattle Sounders at BMO Field. First the Reds needed to get past the Columbus Crew, and they did so in a tense affair that first saw heroics from Michael Bradley to save a goal, then by Jozy Altidore to score the winner. It was a night of huge relief as the best season in MLS will now be capped off with an MLS Cup Final appearance. Now TFC must avenge last year's loss and stake their proper claim as the best team in MLS history.

A 0-0 draw in Columbus leaves everything up for grabs next week when the return leg comes back to Toronto. It was a tight affair in Ohio, with Toronto playing a tactical and disciplined match that almost came undone in the final minutes. Alex Bono once again saved the day to keep the Reds in a good position and with Giovinco and Jozy Altidore set to return they should be looking at the next match with confidence.

Maybe because we lost! TFC are dropped 1-0, but dodged a bullet in the playoffs by advancing on away goals 2-2 over the New York Red Bulls. It wasn't your normal encounter, as it was a "classic" MLS refereeing display that had bad calls, no calls and missed calls to put almost every advantage towards New York. However, the Reds get through to face Columbus without superstars in tow - both Jozy Altidore and Giovinco will be suspended and it will take a huge team effort to keep the side in a strong position coming back to BMO.

Toronto FC take care of business away to the New York Red Bulls in a huge 2-1 win to put them in the driver's seat ahead of the home leg. It was another professional win, that still left room for improvement, as the usual suspects of Jozy Altidore, Giovinco and Victor Vasquez created the chances, while Chris Mavinga and Alex Bono were essential in keeping them out. It is a buoyant result against a top team who could have been the bogeyman, but there is now confidence not just ahead of Sunday, but that the team is playing at the level to keep pushing towards the MLS Cup Final.