Major League Soccer 2016

[blueandgoldguy]

I thought Toronto would win this game for sure. Great season nonetheless.

Oh, would the folks running this league please end the season in mid-November instead of mid-December. Having a league final with the really possibility of temperatures well-below zero is beyond silly. The MLS soccer season should not run for 9 months.

[mistercorporate]

Bull$hit!! Biased ref and penalties is a stupid way to lose a game. We bossed the crap out of them but didn't finish off our chances, Seattle now is the first team to win a cup without ever getting close to the net! Regardless, I'm happy for them as they're a passionate fanbase and quite satisfied with what was an entertaining season. Our real cup final was the second leg Eastern Championship against Montreal, what a game! Goodnight sportsfans!!

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

I thought Toronto would win this game for sure. Great season nonetheless.

Oh, would the folks running this league please end the season in mid-November instead of mid-December. Having a league final with the really possibility of temperatures well-below zero is beyond silly. The MLS soccer season should not run for 9 months.

Agreed, the final should be in November!

[Nicko999]

I hate the fact penalties can decide the Championship in a any soccer league but what can you do. Kind of surprised since I expected Toronto to win. Vanney should have kept Giovinco even if it was only for penalties. Sub in Ricketts for someone else.

Also what a save by Frei in overtime. Quite possibly the best save in MLS history considering the importance of it (final, OT).

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

Bull$hit!! Biased ref and penalties is a stupid way to lose a game. We bossed the crap out of them but didn't finish off our chances, Seattle now is the first team to win a cup without ever getting close to the net! Regardless, I'm happy for them as they're a passionate fanbase and quite satisfied with what was an entertaining season. Our real cup final was the second leg Eastern Championship against Montreal, what a game! Goodnight sportsfans!!

The ref was fair. It was a pretty physical game but you want that in the final. The second thing, I agree with. It's a stupid way to lose (or win for that matter).

[thenoflyzone]

Seems as though TFC can only score off of set plays. This was their game to lose. The sounders didn't even get a shot on net in 120 mins !

The Impact would have beaten Seattle. Just sayin'.

MLS playoffs should end late October, nevermind November! The final in 2013 in Kansas City was colder still. Ridiculous.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

Seems as though TFC can only score off of set plays. This was their game to lose. The sounders didn't even get a shot on net in 120 mins !

The Impact would have beaten Seattle. Just sayin'.

MLS playoffs should end late October, nevermind November! The final in 2013 in Kansas City was colder still. Ridiculous.

Set plays? Most of their goals were from the run of play, you haven't been paying attention playboy

Impact just can't defend corners worth a damn!

[Hawrylyshyn]

Yup definitely good officiating, can't argue that. And I'm glad that it was at least Frei that ultimately won it for Seattle I always liked the guy when he was here

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

The Impact would have beaten Seattle. Just sayin'.

Maybe the Impact should have beaten Toronto then. Just sayin'.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

More ratings records for the final

TORONTO (December 12, 2016) – Toronto FC has broken the all-time MLS audience record yet again, after their storybook run through the AUDI 2016 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS culminated with a penalty kick showdown in the MLS CUP 2016, one of 60+ iconic championships that live on TSN. Overnight data from Numeris confirms that an average audience of more than 1.5 million viewers tuned in to TFC’s penalty kick loss to the Seattle Sounders on TSN (1.43 million*) and RDS (92,000*) to become Canada’s most-watched MLS game in history. The game was the most-watched television program – including sports broadcasts – in Canada on Saturday night.

The MLS CUP 2016 marked a 10% increase in average audience over the previous record, set on Nov. 30 in the MLS Eastern Conference Championship matchup between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, with the TSN audience for Saturday night’s match almost doubling that of the conference final.

Audience levels peaked at 11 p.m. ET with 2.7 million viewers as Sounders defender Román Torres slotted home his penalty kick to seal the victory for Seattle. Overall, 4.2 million individual Canadians watched some part of Saturday night’s championship game on TSN and RDS.

TFC fans rallied around the Reds on Saturday night, as the MLS CUP 2016 was the most-watched program in the Greater Toronto Area – more than doubling the audience of the next-highest broadcast in the team’s home market and delivering a 35% share.

[JHikka]

Here's the movement on those numbers:

ECF LEG 1 (TOR/MTL) TSN: 595K
ECF LEG 2 (TOR/MTL) TSN: 862K
MLS CUP (TOR/SEA) TSN: 1.43M

ECF LEG 1 (TOR/MTL) RDS: 429K
ECF LEG 2 (TOR/MTL) RDS: 519K
MLS CUP (TOR/SEA) RDS: 92K

[Nicko999]

Just going to leave this there and going to make myself some popcorn...

Toronto FC field needs work, Giovinco says

Sebastian Giovinco admits he’s no expert, but the Toronto FC striker suggested Tuesday that sharing the pitch at BMO Field with the Toronto Argonauts may have contributed to the leg cramps he suffered late in the season.

With players fielding questions and cleaning out their lockers after dropping the MLS Cup final, Giovinco — who was subbed out in three of Toronto’s four home playoff games, including Saturday’s loss to the Seattle Sounders — said he struggled more at BMO Field this year than in 2015.

The Italian added he wasn’t trying to make excuses for the championship loss, but felt the field’s quality had clearly changed.

“Considering that last year I had a great winning streak and great games all on the home field, maybe the only factor that may have contributed somehow and changed since last year (is that) another team was playing in BMO Field,” he said through a translator.

Giovinco said he hadn’t suffered from cramps for four years before this October, adding he discussed the matter with members of TFC’s front office during an end-of-year meeting Monday.

The Reds praised the work of their grounds crew throughout the season, the first in which both the MLS and CFL teams called BMO Field home. However, striker Jozy Altidore, general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and even team president Bill Manning agreed there were growing pains.

“Look, the field wasn’t ideal. It was Dec. 10. We had the Grey Cup. It was very sandy,” Manning said.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2...inco-says.html

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Just going to leave this there and going to make myself some popcorn...

Toronto FC field needs work, Giovinco says


https://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2...inco-says.html

Okay I'll bite!

Oh for Christ's sakes, really? Is he really that fined tuned of an athlete that a less than perfect field makes him fold like a cheap suit? On top of that, if he was that good wouldn't he be playing for a div 1 team in Italy?

TFC had a pretty good run this fall, lots of feel good stories coupled with media coverage that was outright fawning at times. Then they just have to pile on the shyte show that was the Argos and run up to this years Grey Cup. Yes the GC committee and the CFL shot themselves in the foot numerous times this year, but to blame the Argos for YOUR failure to perform? Get a life you moron.

[JHikka]

TFC have sold 19,000 season tickets for the 2017 season, already surpassing the total number they had for 2016.

Originally Posted by Nicko999

Just going to leave this there and going to make myself some popcorn...

Try not to antagonize other members of the forum, thanks.

[EpicPonyTime]

Don't the Sounders play on the same field as the Seahawks? He's basically saying he isn't as good of a player as his contemporaries from Seattle.

I think there are plenty of alternative reasons as to why he may have cramped more this year; he's played in October before, but has he played in cool temperatures in November before? You're a professional athlete, for crying out loud. If your game is so put off by another team using your field, you have bigger problems.

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Okay I'll bite!

Oh for Christ's sakes, really? Is he really that fined tuned of an athlete that a less than perfect field makes him fold like a cheap suit? On top of that, if he was that good wouldn't he be playing for a div 1 team in Italy?

TFC had a pretty good run this fall, lots of feel good stories coupled with media coverage that was outright fawning at times. Then they just have to pile on the shyte show that was the Argos and run up to this years Grey Cup. Yes the GC committee and the CFL shot themselves in the foot numerous times this year, but to blame the Argos for YOUR failure to perform? Get a life you moron.

TFC rejected an offer by FC Barcelona (arguably the best team in the world) to purchase him last year. Yes, he is that good. Before he came to Toronto he played for Juventus, the only reason he made a switch was because the new coaches system didn't require a second striker capability (just a pure #9 striker and attacking midfielders/wingers). He is a highly skilled player that relies on ball control and balance so playing surfaces matter to him. One has to also keep in mind that soccer players run 10 km per game on average. Seattle doesn't have any elite players and many top players have refused to play there due to injury risk (players like Thierry Henry).

[GreaterMontréal]

Gio wants to play, he would never have as much playing time in Barcelona.

[FrankieFlowerpot]

Originally Posted by EpicPonyTime

Don't the Sounders play on the same field as the Seahawks? He's basically saying he isn't as good of a player as his contemporaries from Seattle.

Being 2015 MVP and 4th in MVP this year despite missing a number of games would suggest otherwise.

Likewise leading the MLS in combined goals and assists in each of the 2 years he's played in the league.



Nice try though

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by mistercorporate

TFC rejected an offer by FC Barcelona (arguably the best team in the world) to purchase him last year. Yes, he is that good. Before he came to Toronto he played for Juventus, the only reason he made a switch was because the new coaches system didn't require a second striker capability (just a pure #9 striker and attacking midfielders/wingers). He is a highly skilled player that relies on ball control and balance so playing surfaces matter to him. One has to also keep in mind that soccer players run 10 km per game on average. Seattle doesn't have any elite players and many top players have refused to play there due to injury risk (players like Thierry Henry).

So he is pretty good player.
Somebody from another blog did the math on the use of BMO field from the last Argo regular season game and I'll use it here.

"So wait... he blames field conditions (with the Argos playing on it) that impacted him over the last few games of the year... lets see these dates:

- October 15: Last Argos Home Game
- October 23: TFC wins vs Chicago - No Complaints
- October 26: TFC wins vs Philly - No Complaints
- October 30: TFC wins vs NYCFC (Only 4 days after previous game) - No Complaints
- November 27: Grey Cup
- November 30: TFC wins vs Mtl - No Complaints
- December 10: TFC loses

8 days between the last Argos game and the next TFC game...2 soccer playoff games with no football happening between the next week without issue... 3 days between the Grey Cup and the 2nd leg of the Eastern Final, but no issue as they won big... another 10 days between games to the MLS cup...YA...SURE... the Argos caused all the pitch problems to happen and his cramping to occur at the end of the year...couldn't be his body just reacting wear and tear eh??"

[esquire]

Someone should hang this in front of that guy's locker

[mistercorporate]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

So he is pretty good player.
Somebody from another blog did the math on the use of BMO field from the last Argo regular season game and I'll use it here.

"So wait... he blames field conditions (with the Argos playing on it) that impacted him over the last few games of the year... lets see these dates:

- October 15: Last Argos Home Game
- October 23: TFC wins vs Chicago - No Complaints
- October 26: TFC wins vs Philly - No Complaints
- October 30: TFC wins vs NYCFC (Only 4 days after previous game) - No Complaints
- November 27: Grey Cup
- November 30: TFC wins vs Mtl - No Complaints
- December 10: TFC loses

8 days between the last Argos game and the next TFC game...2 soccer playoff games with no football happening between the next week without issue... 3 days between the Grey Cup and the 2nd leg of the Eastern Final, but no issue as they won big... another 10 days between games to the MLS cup...YA...SURE... the Argos caused all the pitch problems to happen and his cramping to occur at the end of the year...couldn't be his body just reacting wear and tear eh??"

He was cramping in those games too, he had to be subbed off in the Montreal game despite winning 5-2, you can see the moment near the end of the match. Both Jozy and him just stated the field conditions deteriorated at the end of this year and didnt blame the Argos in particular, they were answering only after the media asked them directly. These are not high drama personalities, very serious and focused introverts, they've taken a lot of abuse at certain points in their career so those who dont know their history are just showing their ignorance and projecting their misguided assumptions. They didnt have these field issue last year.