Regeln » pact folks to part with their hard earned money for the seaso

In 2013, it took Toronto FC 21 matches to earn just three wins. A year later and it is a very different story. Instead of starving the fans of success and making them wait until the end of July to reach that three victory mark, the Reds have managed to achieve it just four matches into the season. Heading into the year, expectations were high, driven by the star power that had been added in the offseason, but as Toronto sits second in the Eastern Conference heading into Saturdays home match against Colorado Rapids (live on TSN at 4pm ET) the story developing is showcasing the supporting cast as well as he big names. One of the big question marks around this team is whether there is enough depth to rely on within the squad when they lose their top players. Last Saturday in Columbus, there were plenty of players eager to prove that depth is there as the team had to face the Crew missing some key pieces including leading scorer Jermain Defoe and first choice central defensive pairing: Steven Caldwell and Doneil Henry. The win in Columbus probably told us more about the reality of Torontos playoff hopes than the previous wins against Seattle Sounders and DC United. Players such as Bradley Orr and Nick Hagglund made significant contributions, as did young Canadian midfielder Kyle Bekker. While Torontos post season ambitions will rest on the consistently high level performances of their big wage earners, having reliable options to call upon within the rest of the squad will also be extremely significant. So in Columbus, it was three points that certainly werent expected. It was a win that proved the new look TFC has the potential to be about more than just the stars. Defoe remains a major doubt for the match against Colorado with the hamstring injury that forced him off in the second half of the 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake, but Ryan Nelsens men have already shown they can win without the England international. They will however be desperate to have Michael Bradley available. The United States international has been magnificent through his first four games with the team. He has missed training this week but is expected to be ready to face the Rapids. Bradley is the heartbeat of Nelsens team. He scored the opening goal in Columbus a week ago, but his performances so far have been of a consistently high standard, driving the team forward from midfield. While everyone has played a part in the excellent start to the season, Bradley has been the key to success. Rapid Response Toronto FC certainly have history on their side heading into Saturdays match. Colorado have visited BMO Field on seven occasions and only won once. However, that match was the most important of them all, beating FC Dallas in extra time to win MLS Cup in 2010. When playing Toronto FC, the Rapids have lost all six. This is the second of back-to-back games for Colorado in Canada and they arrive in Toronto in a confident mood off the back of a 2-1 win against the Whitecaps in Vancouver a week ago. The Rapids were fortunate to see the sending off of Whitecaps midfielder Matias Laba turn the game in their favour, but they took full advantage to gain all three points at BC Place. The Rapids were undermanned in Vancouver with four-goal Vincente Sanchez and Edson Buddle missing the trip because they didnt want to play on turf, plus defender Marvell Wynne who was suspended. Despite the absences of key players, they were well organized against the Caps, led by their Spanish midfielder Jose Mari. He scored both goals, but his play throughout was very good, and his passing was exceptional with a 95% success rate. Colorado are yet to lose away from home this season, with a tie at New York to open the season and last weeks win in the Pacific Northwest. There will be a strong Toronto connection within the Rapids squad with four players having previously pulled on the Reds jersey, Wynne, Buddle, Nathan Sturgis and Nick LaBrocca. As they return, they will find a club far different from the one they experienced during their time in Toronto. Ryan Nelsens squad has proved it has the ability to grind out results at home or on the road, something we havent seen from a TFC team for a very long time. Vincent Kompany Jersey . Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out. Belgium Jerseys .com) - The surging Montreal Canadiens will try to match their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the Florida Panthers for Saturdays clash at BB&T Center. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Axel-Witsel-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. Eden Hazard Jersey . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. Kevin De Bruyne Jersey . You can listen to the game live on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal or on TSN.ca/Montreal. Also, TSN.ca features live streaming of the post-game news conferences from the Bell Centre. The Rangers grabbed a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final after Sundays 3-2 overtime victory against the visiting Habs."I dont get this much love at home." Clearly enjoying the moment, he then looked out from the stage towards his eldest son, who was sat in amongst the Impact faithful, and dead panned. "Dont forget to tell your mother." It was the Impacts inaugural Members Assembly and Joey Saputo had just been formally introduced to 500 plus newly minted IMFC members taking place at the downtown Sheraton Centre. As Saputo walked to the podium to welcome all, to a man and woman they got to their feet and gave their club President a rousing standing ovation. He reveled in the adulations. How different it had been just six-weeks earlier and the last time Saputo spoke to an engaged Impact audience. Then, it was a clearly disillusioned Saputo who met with the media for the 2013 season post-mortem. A season which promised so very much and which ultimately descended into the Horrors of Houston. Uncertainty may have reigned that fall Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday night however the theme and focus was future Impact. To set the tone, an hour before the Assembly kicked off, new head coach and director of player personnel Frank Klopas had been introduced to a sizeable media throng. Fresh off the announcement of signing a three-year deal, the latest Stade Saputo sheriff then took his place on the stage at the Impact head table. Sat four-square with Saputo and Klopas on the stage were Sporting Director, Nick de Santis plus Impact and Saputo Stadium Executive Vice President, Richard Legendre. Legendre is the architect and driving force behind the clubs decision to do away with the season ticket model and go with the more widely embracing club member scheme. Before that though, Saputo opened the proceedings Wednesday evening and used the occasion to explain the new technical structure which had been put in place during the intervening weeks since the November 5th post mortem. After welcoming Klopas deep inside the Impact bosom, Saputo announced that from now on De Santis would now only deal with the senior team on an exclusive basis and that long term servant Matt Jordan had been elevated to technical director. With all but assistant Philippe Eullaffroy, who would return to his first love as IMFC Academy Director, all of the other 2013 backroom staff remain for 2014. Eullaffroy is immensely regarded by the club hierarchy, staff and his charges so need to wonder about the vote of confidence this bestows on Mauro Biello, goalkeeping coach Youssef Dahha and fitness coach, Paolo Pacione. Klopas has inherited a staff which will always bleed blue. In a city where often language defines, each of them is tri-lingual. To complete the coaching set up down Stade Saputo way, Klopas is expected to bring in a friendly face, perhaps two. After Saputo had concluded, and sat down with warm cheers still ringing in his ears, Sporting Director Nick de Santis got to his feet to address an audience which was a reflection of a very diverse Impact fan base. They ranged in age from a blue clad baby about to meet Santa for the first time to many who likely would have attended Stade Olympique from those early 80s Montreal Manic NASL days. Largely male, the conference room was scattered with some rather stylish looking ladies which la Belle Ville is synonymous for the world over. The Impacts Sporting Director might not always have had the best of relationships with certain members of the clubs supporters but his 10-minute completely unscripted speech at the Assembly delivered entirely in French was more passionate and said with more conviction than anything the Bell Centre has witnessed in recent years. Good luck topping that Miley Cyrus when you visit in late March. There is no denying De Santis or his incessant conviction and devotion to a club that made him as a player, and one which likely had the greatest influence on defining his entire character profile. With Beckham now retired to the London suburbs there likely is no more a stylish individual in all Major League Soccer. Only MLS Cup hero and haute couture devotee Aurelien Collin could likely give De Santis a run for his clothingg money.dddddddddddd I doubt there is another single executive across the league who is more devoted to his club than De Santis. His Montreal soccer roots even pre-date the Impacts 1993 birth. He might not have always got it right over the decades, but has always been willing to lay it all out on the line. Ruthless if need be, De Santis does not hide or shirk away. Having won it as a player, a head coach and most recently in 2009 as a GM - make no mistake before De Santis calls it a day the Impact will be crowned MLS Champions. When his turn came to wax lyrical Wednesday night, Klopas opened up admitting he didnt have a clue what De Santis had just said in French but promised there and then he would learn the language. If the new head coach is anything like Montreals sizeable Greek community, then come the opening game on the season on March 8th hell be able to recant De Santis speech verbatim. Klopas said all the right things, pointed out Joey Saputos deeply embracing ways played a key role in Montreal convincing him. The new head coach also stated this was the best ever fan event he had ever attended. He should know having joined the league in the inaugural 1996 season. For a club which truly positions itself as an extended family, Klopas disclosed he has been a visitor to Montreal for a number of years, often at Christmas and could recall those Manic days. The concluding speaker for IMFCs inaugural Assembly was Legendre who gave a power point presentation in his native tongue which revealed some rather startling data. In mid-July when the Impact announced they were setting up a members only club, their Executive VP explained to TSN.ca at the time, "The way it originated for us is the fact we wanted to go one step further in the interaction of our season ticket holders." Wednesday evening we had empirical evidence of this. With a nod to a deepening soccer sophistication of the Stade Saputo devotees, eight in 10 season ticket holders demanded Saturday evening matches in the summer. For a competition that was conceived as one to be played under floodlights in midweek, the Impact faithful took a cue from the UEFA Champions League with a sizable majority also preferring Wednesday night matches. Go check the clubs schedule to see how the Impact responded to this extensive supporter feedback. The soccer is what will always compel Impact folks to part with their hard earned money for the season cause - but for over 30% of them they place the Saputo Stadium ambiance and atmosphere just as highly. Led by the Ultras Montréal and having been attending football grounds the world over for close to 4-decades I can lay witness to some quite fantastic Saturday and Wednesday night matches last season. No greater measure than closing your eyes and allowing the cacophony of Stade Saputo sound lead your match commentary. This crowd doesnt need any PA encouragement. It occurs organically. When Legendre took his seat a very well spirited Q & A period which extended itself well beyond the allotted time had all 4 of the Impact hierarchy go through the entire football emotion playbook. Fittingly the evening also included the introduction of the Impacts brand new 15 person member council. This football collective will meet four times a season and liaise directly with senior club personnel on matters of vital importance for those most meaningful for any FC, its supporters. Saputo and Legendres last point of business on an evening that went deep into the cold and wintry Montreal night was to announce the name of a club member who would get to take themselves and a guest away from the late winter Montreal deepening cold for a quick hop down to the sun and fun of Florida. Not just any old Florida resort mind you. Instead chance to take in the 2014 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic® and scream their level best as the Impact looks to defend a title that very much helped set up a very memorable 2013 campaign. Roll on March 8th. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter ' ' '