2007-2015 were not great years for TFC. There were a few bright spots of mediocrity in an otherwise sh***y existence, yet the stalwarts continued to go and support the team through all of the highs and lows.  Last year was was good even though we fell at the final hurdle, but this season has been amazing so far and TFC have already broken a few club records - with 7 games to go - such as most points in a season, most wins in a season and a few others .... now they are on track to shatter a few league records too ! 

Another fine win last night against rivals Montreal

 

 

Saw this article on the MLS website today and it dawned on me just how close TFC's current team are to being the best performers in MLS. ever !!! Wow !

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/08/27/chasing-history-toronto-fc-pace-one-greatest-seasons-ever

 

 

With seven matches left to play in the 2017 regular season, Toronto FC are currently on pace to log one of the greatest single seasons in MLS history.

Having already captured the 2017 Canadian Championship crown back in June, here are some of the other all-time marks within reach of the Reds:

Supporters' Shield

No Canadian club has ever won the trophy awarded to the team with the best record during the regular season. Toronto FC are nine points clear with seven matches to go.

1. Toronto FC: 56 pts
2. New York City FC: 47 pts
3. Columbus Crew SC: 42 pts
4. Seattle Sounders FC: 42 pts
5. Chicago Fire: 41 pts
6. Portland Timbers: 41 pts

Most Points

Toronto FC are chasing the LA Galaxy's 68 points in 1998 (shootout era) and the 67 points by the 2011 LA Galaxy (post-shootout era). Toronto FC are currently at 56 points with 21 points still available for the taking.

1. LA Galaxy (1998): 68 pts
2. LA Galaxy (2011): 67 pts
3. San Jose Earthquakes (2012): 66 pts
4. San Jose Earthquakes (2005): 64 pts
5. Seattle Sounders (2014): 64 pts

Most Points Per Game

Only three teams in MLS history have registered 2.0 points per game or more. Toronto FC are currently second all-time: 

1. LA Galaxy (1998): 2.13 ppg
2. Toronto FC (2017): 2.07 ppg*
3. Miami Fusion (2001): 2.04 ppg
4. San Jose Earthquakes (2005): 2 ppg

* = 7 matches left to play

Most Wins

In the post-shootout era (since 2000), this record is held by the 2014 Seattle Sounders with their 20 wins. Toronto FC are at 16 wins with seven matches left to play. 

1. Seattle Sounders (2014): 20 wins
2. LA Galaxy (2011): 19 wins
3. San Jose Earthquakes (2012): 19 wins
4. Six teams tied with 18 wins

Fewest Losses

Toronto FC will need to go undefeated the rest of the way to own this mark all by themselves: 

1. Toronto FC (2017): 3*
2. FC Dallas (2010): 4
3. Real Salt Lake (2010): 4
4. San Jose Earthquakes (2005): 4
5. Five teams tied with 5 losses

* = 7 matches left to play

Most Goals Scored

With 55 goals scored and seven matches left to play, Toronto FC will like their chances of breaking into this all-time Top 5:

1. LA Galaxy (1998): 85 goals
2. D.C. United (1998): 74 goals
3. San Jose Earthquakes (2012): 72 goals
4. D.C. United (1997): 70 goals
5. LA Galaxy (2014): 69 goals

Best Goal Differential

The 1998 LA Galaxy (+41) and the 2014 LA Galaxy (+32) logged the best goal differential totals in league history. 

After their 3-1 win in Montreal on August 27, Toronto FC are currently at +29 (55 goals scored vs. 26 goals allowed).

1. LA Galaxy (1998): +41
2. LA Galaxy (2014): +32
3. Toronto FC (2017): +29*
4. San Jose Earthquakes (2012): +29
5. D.C. United (1998): +26
6. Real Salt Lake (2010): +25

* = 7 matches left to play

 

 

Video not authorized in my location

27 minutes ago, Gringo said:

Video not authorized in my location

To think what the fallout would be when Montreal twinned with Coventry...

2 hours ago, Gringo said:

Video not authorized in my location

try this one : 

 

 

That's better. Some great goals there. Cameraman asleep for the second. And what the heck is 'big ben' all about Impressive performance by TFC.

Yeah, camerawork not the best for the second and almost missed the third too .... I blame it on Montreal !

Seba Giovinco is just ridiculous at free-kicks and he has such a great partnership with Jozy Altidore its a joy to watch. There's a video somewhere on YouTube of all his Toronto FC goals and some of them are sublime.  found it ... posted below. Contains all his goals  up to July this year but he has scored 8 in the 9 games since then. 

The Bell is a Montreal thing they do every time they score (so not very often !) ... a bit like Portland Timbers have 'Timber Joey' a lumberjack who cuts off a huge chunk of a massive log after they score (not sure our police would take kindly to a man with a chainsaw pitchside !!! ... although maybe its a good motivator ! TFC just celebrate traditionally with the supporters going nuts ! 

 

 

not surprisingly, Sebastian Giovinco got the Player of the Week plaudits 

 

Scotty - That Seba Giovinco is some player. Can you persuade him to come to TCS for a couple of seasons? 

I wish !

So this weekend, TFC drew 2-2 in Atlanta before a crowd of over 71,000 (new MLS record) . The point earned confirmed TFC with the all-time highest points scored in a season (69).

• 1:15 Atlanta get a penalty after video review. 1-0 to Atlanta.
• 2:45 Jozy Altidore makes it 1-1. Gets beer thrown at him and Seb Giovinco drinks it and throws it back
• 4:00 Atlanta make it 2-1
• 5:10 Giovinco scores another amazing free-kick to tie it up at 2-2. As Steven Caldwell says in the commentary ... sublime !

• Canadian Championship Winners 2017 (qualify for the CONCACAF version of Champions League)
• 34 League games - 20 wins (13H), 9 draws (3H), 5 losses (1H). points per game average 2.03.
• 74 goals scored, 37 conceded. goals per game average 2.18
• Supporters Shield Winners (League Champions) 2017
• now to the MLS Cup playoffs as #1 seed. Can TFC reach the final for the second year in a row? If so, can we go one better and win it this time and in the process win the domestic treble (US/Canadian domestic Cup, Supporters Shield, MLS Cup)

The omens are not good as not many teams have won the MLS Cup after winning the Supporters Shield and no-one has won the domestic treble of the US or Canadian domestic cup, the supporters shield, and then the MLS Cup ! Its been a great season, but it would end really well if TFC could do it all and win the cup final on December 9th, in Toronto (highest seed left in the competition hosts the final) .... 

The playoff format means TFC and New York City in the east and Portland and Seattle in the west get a bye to the semi-final whilst other teams fight it out in the knockout round. TFC could face Chicago, New York Red Bulls, Atlanta, or Columbus. We will know in a couple of days how it all shapes up as the knockout games happen tomorrow and Thursday.  Really don't want Atlanta again and could do without drawing Chicago so hoping for a Red Bulls or Columbus win which should (on paper) be easier for TFC.

Not too fussed about the eastern side of the draw. The top two seeds are definitely the best teams, but if Vancouver could make it all the way through and we had an all-Canadian MLS final that would be another first and an epic final (in Toronto) against two sides (and cities) who dont like each other much !

This is the playoff 'bracket' (as they call it over here) : https://www.mlssoccer.com/mls-cup-playoffs/2017/bracket

 

So that's TFC through to the Eastern Conference Final against Columbus Crew ! It was squeaky bum time for the 30,000 crowd on Sunday but TFC managed to hold on at BMO Field after a raucous bad tempered affair officiated by a referee that makes SPFL refs look like world beaters !!!   The 2-1 victory in New York last week was the saving grace in this round, with another sublime free kick from Giovinco to win it. But after a tunnel fight on Sunday that saw Jozy Altidore (and Sacha Kljestan) red carded and out for the next game - or perhaps more - and a booking that sees Giovinco miss the first game of the conference final, TFC will have to rely on others to carry the next game against Columbus.  

 

   First Leg -  New York RB 1-2 TFC

 

2nd Leg - TFC 0-1 New York RB

 

The Tunnel Fight (filmed by a fan from the 'tunnel club' [a walkway where fans can usually watch their team head up the tunnel. opposition teams dont usually come this far as their changing room is immediately left at the start of the tunnel some 20m further back])

 

After a squeaker against Columbus, thats TFC now crowned Eastern Division Champions again and through to the MLS Cup Final to be held here in Toronto a week Saturday (9th December). Jozy Altidore lived up to his nickname "the Beast" after going off to the sideline injured, then back on, then off and back on again, only to score the goal that took TFC through. Michael Bradley was a beast all the way trough the game too. The radio said afterwards that his pass accuracy was 90% on the night and he truly lived up to that old cliche about covering every blade of grass ! 

Now to go and buy thermal everything for the final. Last year was brutal in the cold with feet like blocks of ice. this year wont be any warmer !  A chance for TFC to win it all this year ... Canadian Champs, Supporters Shield Winners, Easter Champions ... and hopefully this year, MLS Cup winners ... 

 

 

https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2017/12/09/toronto-fc-mls-cup-champions-highlights-recap

Great match

It was a great match and what an atmosphere. My photos and videos from the game are online at http://vftss.com

 

 

 

Nice to see  The Canadians  get  the better of the US.

Not my sport in America much prefer the NFL after my trip to Wembley to see the  Kansas v Detroit game

45 minutes ago, Laurence said:

Nice to see  The Canadians  get  the better of the US.

Not my sport in America much prefer the NFL after my trip to Wembley to see the  Kansas v Detroit game

Its not really Canadians getting the better of the US ... its like the NHL (Hockey) and MLB (Baseball) where Canadian teams compete alongside US teams in a 'domestic' league spanning two countries. Our starting lineup for the final had 6 Americans, 1 Iranian, 1 Congolese, 1 Spaniard, 1 Italian, and 1 Canadian. The subs who came on were American, Panamanian and French !   

It IS however the first time a Canadian based club has won either the MLS Cup or the Supporters Shield let alone both ... and with the American supporters blaming both Michael Bradley (USA Captain) and Jozy Altidore in recent weeks for their failure to qualify for the World Cup and dishing out dogs abuse to them at every turn, some of it disgusting and very personal .... it was great that Jozy scored the first and that Bradley was absolutely immense on the day. They definitely know that the TFC fans appreciate them ... Victor Vazquez getting the second goal deep into injury time to calm the nerves and kick of a huge celebration was also fitting as many see the former Barcelona and Brugge player as the final missing piece of the team from last year that got to the final only to fall at the last hurdle. 

My favourite part of the final was actually on the victory parade a two days later where Jozy - still drunk from Saturday - trolled our rivals Montreal, and declared himself TFC for life !

 

will never tire of these videos : 

 

These were videos I took myself from the stands. 

The first was just after the 2nd goal was scored a few seconds ahead of the final whistle

Waiting for the cup to be presented : 

 

A really long video of the presentation and aftermath

 

 

2 hours ago, Laurence said:

Nice to see  The Canadians  get  the better of the US.

 

Agreed. Always good to see a small liberal minded nation with an open and inclusive attitude prevail over their much larger and much less liberal and inclusive southern neighbours.