U-Sector – The Original Toronto FC Supporters Group

Pre-Game: Who plays?

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship kicks off tomorrow evening at BMO Field, and the biggest question on the minds of TFC fans is, “who plays?”

No one knows the importance that Preki places on this event, and no one will until shortly before kickoff.

Toronto supporters, of course, relish this tournament. The Voyageurs Cup competition has resonated with this fan base, much more so than the average, run-of-the-mill MLS match.

Perhaps the fact that a real rivalry with Montreal (the city) existed long before either TFC or the Impact ever kicked a ball in anger helps fuel the passion, a rivalry that doesn’t really exist with opposing MLS cities. That the civic rivalry translated onto the field of play, backed by rather large fan bases that genuinely dislike one another, really comes as no surprise.

There are so many angles at play in a match involving TFC and the Impact. MLS versus USL/NASL/USSF-D2. English Canada versus French Canada. Multiple Voyageurs Cup winners versus the brash new kid on the soccer block.  And so on.

The fact of the matter is, we (the TFC fans) want to beat them just as much as they want to beat us.

But does Preki share that sentiment?

This is a tough stretch for Toronto, a team that will be averaging roughly a game every three days for the next month. Preki is already on record as saying that his priority is MLS and having his side reach the playoffs for the first time ever, which would suggest that we’ll see many of the benchwarmers (Nick Garcia, anyone?) in red tomorrow night.

Of course, Preki has also been quoted as saying that every match is important to him and his coaching staff, and that he’ll treat the Canadian Championship matches the same way as he does every game.

So which is it? Will Preki throw out the scrubs versus Montreal and hope for the best? Or will we see the De Rosarios, de Guzmans, Freis and Attakoras out there on the BMO grass?

TFC is finally showing signs of coming together as a team, so perhaps Preki will use the modest bit of momentum that Toronto built up in Sunday’s victory over Seattle.

Only time will tell.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As for Montreal, they are only two games into their 2010 USSF-D2 campaign, and still looking for their first win.  They lost their season opener 2-0 at Austin Aztex before drawing Portland Timbers 1-1 at their 2010 Stade Saputo debut.

The Impact showed a bit of rust in those games, and could be ripe for the “outwork the other team” philosophy that TFC has implemented this season.

Montreal remains largely unchanged from the squad that only scored one goal in the NCC in 2009, with young striker Reda Agourram taking over Joey Gjertsen’s roster spot after the American departed for San Jose Earthquakes. A couple of Euro imports have also joined the Impact, with varying degrees of success thus far.

Last year’s form means nothing, and Montreal will have the advantage of familiarity amongst its players. The Impact will obviously be motivated to keep the game competitive, and will feed off the hostile BMO Field crowd that will likely be the biggest they play in front of in 2010 (not including friendlies).

The “Miracle in Montreal” match notwithstanding, every TFC versus Imact match has been a close one, and it would be wise to expect more of the same on Wednesday.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Join U-Sector at Maro (135 Liberty St) for pre-game bevvies, starting at 5:00pm Wednesday. We will be marching with RPB to the stadium starting at 7:30pm.

Posted by Rudi Schuller