The Carls-Rite Cup and the Birth of the Toronto – Montreal Rivalry The Toronto-Montreal rivalry is one of the most hotly contested in North American soccer at the moment. Over the past few years the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC have played each other in plenty of memorable matches. The rivalry between the teams has spilled over to the fan bases and has built on the animosity that already existed between the cities’ other sporting teams. The rivalry between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC is just one of many that has existed between soccer teams from these two cities over the years. The origins of this rivalry go back to the early 20th century with humble beginnings in the form of an amateur all-star game, the Carls-Rite Cup. The cup named after its donor, the famous Carls-Rite hotel in downtown Toronto, was first contested in 1914 and was contested every year there after until 1931 (with the exceptions of 1918 and 1926). Toronto and Montreal selected all-star teams from the best players playing for amateur clubs in each city to face off a two-legged affair. From 1927 onwards the format was changed slightly to a single match rotating annually between Montreal and Toronto (in the case of a tie the previous winner retained the cup). http://www.rednationonline.ca/Articles2014/TheCarlsRiteCupandtheBirthofarivalry.aspx
Blackburn's Bradley Orr set for Toronto Blackburn Rovers defender Bradley Orr is set to complete a year-long loan move to Major League Soccer side Toronto. The MLS Eastern Conference side are managed by Orr's former Blackburn team-mate Ryan Nelsen. Bradley Orr has not made one appearance for Blackburn Rovers this season and only played four times for Blackpool in a loan spell earlier this campaign. Orr will move on loan until December, with a view to a permanent switch. A deal in principle has been agreed between Blackburn and Toronto with the move expected to go through imminently. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1vjy8e
MLSE's Leiweke: Taxpayers would be paid back for BMO Field expansion Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke says MLSE would pay “almost all” of the cost of expanding the Toronto FC stadium BMO Field, at Exhibition Place, could be expanded from its present 20,000 capacity to 30,000 - and up to 40,000 on a temporary basis, as for the Pan Am Games in 2015. BMO Field, owned by the city, is home to Major League Soccer team Toronto FC, owned by MLSE. CEO Tim Leiweke, fresh off a splashy $100 million investment in two players, wants to add a partial roof and more seats to a seven-year-old facility that he says has already “fallen behind the rest of the league.” The $63-million stadium was built with about $45 million in public funds, including $10 million in cash from the city — plus a city donation of land worth $10 million. Taxpayer funding of sports facilities is perpetually contentious. Leiweke said he believes the renovation agreement “will be a deal that won’t have a lot of controversy to it”: this time, he said, MLSE expects to pay the majority of the costs. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1votcx
Toronto FC acquire defender Bradley Orr on loan from English Championship side Blackburn Rovers FC announced Friday that the club has acquired defender Bradley Orr on loan from English Championship club Blackburn Rovers FC. As per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Bradley Orr represents the addition of a versatile defender with valuable experience, and gives greater depth to our backline,” Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement. “Ryan [Nelsen, head coach] has known Bradley for some time and was instrumental in helping to secure his arrival to our club.” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...adley-orr-loan-english-championship-side-blac
Why Michael Bradley has earned right to wear the armband for Toronto FC and USMNT You probably missed it on Wednesday night. Hell, most people probably couldn’t even see it thanks to that pea-soup thick fog in Bradenton, Fla. But very quietly, Michael Bradley took a huge step in his still-peaking career: He put on the captain’s armband and led a team onto the pitch for the first time as a professional. The result wasn’t particularly remarkable – Bradley’s Toronto FC defeated D.C. United 1-0 in the Canadian club’s first competitive match of 2014. The visibility wasn’t great, and it certainly affected the quality of play. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...as-earned-right-wear-armband-usmnt-toronto-fc
With one Designated Player too many, Toronto FC to part ways with Matias Laba Ever since Toronto FC became the talk of MLS this offseason with a handful of blockbuster signings, there has been speculation surrounding what they would do with young Designated Player Matías Laba. When TFC landed USMNT star Michael Bradley, English international Jermain Defoe and Brazilian striker Gilberto, all signed to Designated Player contracts, it left them with four DP contracts, one above the MLS-mandated limit of three. Even after the three signings, TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen said the club would “move hell and high water” to keep Laba. Hell and high water, apparently, proved to be too much to move according to a report in the Toronto Sun. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...yer-too-many-toronto-fc-part-ways-matias-laba
Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari says goalkeeper Julio Cesar will join Toronto FC Brazilian national team head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that veteran goalkeeper Júlio César will be joining Toronto FC, and that he will join the Seleção for the team’s international friendly against South Africa next month as the team’s incumbent starter for the World Cup. Scolari and Brazilian national team technical director Carlos Albert Parreria held a press conference on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the March 5 match in Johannesburg and were asked about the future of the 34-year-old Júlio César, who is expected to join TFC on loan before he starts in his second consecutive World Cup for Brazil. "Júlio has been called up, and he must report to his new club, Toronto,” Scolari said. “He must finalize all the legal documentation and will be in excellent condition. He does not have any [health] problems.” Júlio César was first linked to Toronto FC last week and his advisors confirmed the move on Sunday, but there has been no official comment from Toronto FC. The club did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1xmmvq
Toronto FC brass still working to keep Matias Laba: "It's going to be difficult, but we're trying" “We are still looking at our options between the three that we have, keeping him here, the option of trading or loaning him within the league and also options outside the league.” Bezbatchenko said the club is doing its best to deal with what is a somewhat unique situation. The club wants to retain Laba, and Laba wants to stay with the club, Bezbatchenko said. He said the league’s Designated Player rules are forcing TFC’s hand. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...keep-matias-laba-its-going-be-difficult-were-
Julio Cesar's acquisition not about filling a need, but rather a "fantastic opportunity" for Toronto FC TORONTO – Yet another big-name player has been added to Toronto FC’s now star-studded squad with the formal announcement Friday of the much-rumored acquisition of Brazilian international goalkeeper Júlio César. Considering that TFC ‘keeper Joe Bendik was acclaimed as one of the club’s top performers last season, the team’s decision to reinforce at that position has actually come as something of a surprise to many. But according to Reds general manager Tim Bezbatchenko, the decision to bring in a player of Júlio César’s caliber was simply a case of being an opportunity the club could not pass up. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...out-filling-need-rather-fantastic-opportunity
2014 Toronto FC Preview: Building a brand new superclub at BMO Field Spend big, win big? Toronto FC certainly won the offseason messaging war, laying out close to nine figures in transfer fees and contracts to land a trio of Designated Players in Michael Bradley, Jermain Defoe and Gilberto. It's no guarantee of success, though – from the "Big Spenders" camp, only the LA Galaxy have claimed an MLS Cup. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...g-brand-new-superclub-bmo-field-armchair-anal
BMO Field expansion plans and renderings released http://i.imgur.com/AYYsLY2.jpg http://i.imgur.com/fOdCOvU.jpg http://i.imgur.com/zjlKVxx.jpg http://i.imgur.com/PeNPAs1.jpg http://i.imgur.com/j27VaWj.jpg
Defoe, Toronto FC Get by Sounders FC Clint Dempsey scored in the second half and Jermain Defoe netted a first-half brace as Seattle Sounders FC (1-1-0, 3 points) fell, 2-1, to Toronto FC (1-0-0, 3 points) on Saturday afternoon on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Toronto FC opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Jonathan Osorio played a through ball to Defoe at the top of the box. Defoe got behind the Seattle defense and finished a low right-footed shot past Stefan Frei. Defoe added his second goal of the match in the 24th minute when he collected a giveaway at midfield and beat Frei with a right-footed shot. Dempsey pulled one back for Seattle in the 68th minute. Lamar Neagle played a ball down the sideline to Obafemi Martins, who collected it and found Dempsey at the top of the box. Dempsey fired a right-footed shot from the center of the box for his first goal of the 2014 regular season. Dempsey has scored (1) or assisted (1) in the first two games of the season, and scored his first club goal in the 2013 regular-season finale. Seattle nearly scored in the 53rd minute when Dylan Remick raced down the left flank and found Martins in the box. Martins turned and fired a shot on goal that Julio Cesar saved with his foot. Martins had another dangerous opportunity seven minutes later when Marco Pappa played him into the box with a backheel pass, but Martins' attempt was stopped by Cesar. Frei made two saves against his former team, including a leaping stop on Alvaro Rey's shot in the 27th minute. Brad Evans suffered a calf injury in the 15th minute and was replaced by Gonzalo Pineda in the 29th minute, marking his MLS debut. Sounders FC visits the Montreal Impact for the first road match of the season on Saturday, March 22. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT at Olympic Stadium. Press release from the Seattle Sounders FC
Re: Defoe, Toronto FC Get by Sounders FC Three Players Assigned To Wilmington Lovitz, Roberts & Aparicio are assigned on loan to USL Pro Club affiliate, Wilmington. Toronto FC announced Monday that the club has assigned goalkeeper Quillan Roberts, along with midfielders Daniel Lovitz, and Manny Aparicio on loan to its USL Pro Club affiliate, Wilmington Hammerheads FC. http://www.reddit.com/tb/20nqi1
Re: Defoe, Toronto FC Get by Sounders FC Toronto city council approves co-investment partnership to expand BMO Field TORONTO – Toronto FC’s home stadium is set for a massive facelift after the Toronto City Council voted 39-3 in favor of investing $10 million in improvements to BMO Field. “We’re very grateful for the leadership and support of the City,” Toronto FC president Tim Leiweke (above) told the Toronto Star. “This is an important issue, not just for Toronto FC, but also the CFL, the Pan Am Games, our ability to host Winter Classics, Grey Cups, and the proposed 2026 World Cup bid for Canada.” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...es-co-investment-partnership-expand-bmo-field
Short-handed Toronto FC falls to Colorado Rapids Toronto FC dropped a 1-0 verdict to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon — and learned something about how their club can handle being in an undermanned situation, which will come back into focus during the World Cup. Read more http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2014/04/12/shorthanded_toronto_fc_falls_to_colorado_rapids.html
Re: Short-handed Toronto FC falls to Colorado Rapids Toronto FC to host English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur in friendly on July 23 FC announced on Wednesday they will host English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur for a friendly at BMO Field on July 23. The game, part of the transfer agreement between the two clubs for current TFC Designated Player Jermain Defoe in January, will be the first meeting between the teams and is part of a four-year advertising-rights agreement between Spurs and TFC owners Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...er-leagues-tottenham-hotspur-friendly-july-23
Re: Short-handed Toronto FC falls to Colorado Rapids Collen Warner joins TFC from Montreal in exchange for Issey Nakajima-Farran. Toronto FC announced Friday that the club has acquired midfielder Collen Warner from the Montreal Impact in exchange for midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran and allocation money. As per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed COLLEN WARNER Position: Midfielder Height: 5’10 Weight: 178 lbs. Birthdate: June 24, 1988 Birth Place: Denver, Colorado Hometown: Denver, Colorado Nationality: American Last Club: Montreal Impact How Acquired: Trade with Montreal Impact on Friday, May 16, 2014 in exchange for midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran and allocation money Pronunciation: “Call-in War-nurr” http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2014/05/toronto-acquires-midfielder-collen-warner
Re: Short-handed Toronto FC falls to Colorado Rapids Canadian football plans removed from Toronto FC's upcoming BMO Field expansion plans It appears that Toronto FC won't have a new gridiron roommate at BMO Field after all – at least not any time soon. On Tuesday morning the Toronto Globe and Mail reported that the plan to remodel TFC's stadium with an eye towards becoming the home of the CFL's Toronto Argonauts has hit a major snag, as the federal government in Ottawa is wavering on its planned CDN $10 million contribution toward the project. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...removed-toronto-fcs-upcoming-bmo-field-expans
Re: Short-handed Toronto FC falls to Colorado Rapids Toronto FC thrilled to add speedy, versatile winger Dominic Oduro to arsenal of weapons Early Friday morning, Toronto swapped wingers with the Columbus Crew and brought in Dominic Oduro in exchange for Alvaro Rey. The trade is the third for the club in a busy spring that has seen Collen Warner and Luke Moore also join the team in recent weeks. “Dominic’s a guy that has proved in the league that he can be pretty devastating,” TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen told reporters at training Friday. “He’s a nice age, he’s got good MLS experience and can play a couple of positions. He’s going to be a valuable asset to our club.” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...versatile-winger-dominic-oduro-arsenal-weapon
Re: Short-handed Toronto FC falls to Colorado Rapids Toronto FC 2, Tottenham Hotspur 3 International Friendly Match TORONTO FC – Toronto FC and Tottenham Hotspur did not disappoint in their international friendly on Wednesday night, with Toronto storming back from a two-goal deficit in a wild second half, only to fall 3-2 to a late winner from Andros Towsend. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-hotspur-3-international-friendly-match-recap
