Michael Bradley Might Be Getting A Phone Call

((HT: Sportsnet/MLS))

If you ask Toronto FC about Saturday night's contest against Sporting KC, they'll come at you from a few different angles.

Head coach Ryan Nelsen will tell you about missed opportunities and a defense that wasn't helping matters, but the players will jump at head referee Ted Unkel and his spotty and inconsistent job performance.

He got some calls right, but others he got wrong and issued 8 cautions when, at times, it wasn't warranted.

“The referee was having trouble giving me calls and maybe it’s because they want me to learn how to play in MLS, and how the style of the league is here. However, I want them to know that I’m not going to roll over. … I’m not somebody who’s going to be a pushover. I want to be treated fairly like every other player,” the Reds' Gilberto told Sportsnet's John Molinaro after the match.

Here's the highlights where you won't see any of Unkel's goofs...


And TFC captain Michael Bradley was less than diplomatic after the match- much like Gilberto, but unlike his coach- demanding that the officiating fix itself post haste...

Here's Bradley's postgame that will, probably, get him a fine...

Not Your Father's Toronto FC

((HT: BT Sport/MLS))

It was a busy first 45 minutes for the new guys playing for the Reds...

Jermain Defoe had two goals and becomes the first player in TFC history to score two goals in a debut...


With a roster of Bradley, Defoe, and Julio Cesar, it might be a little early to say something
But these guys are good...

TFC hung on for a 2-1 win at Seattle and Defoe has only been in since the early part of the week...

Imagine what can happen with a lot of practice time...

It's A Bloody Good Ad Campaign

((HT: Toronto FC their own selves))

Let's face it...

TFC had a great week... probably their best week in team history at MLS...

Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley were signed to add some much-needed firepower to the ranks...

And the team came up with a great ad campaign to celebrate Defoe...


That's some funny stuff right there...

Defoe, Bradley Introduced In Toronto

((HT: Sportsnet))

With Tim Leiweke taking over at MLSE for everything MLSE- including Toronto FC's woeful on-field status- they needed to make some kind of a splash in the MLS marketplace...

And the HQ thinks that the league getting Michael Bradley for US$10-million and bringing in Tottenham's Jermain Defoe certainly qualifies...

But, for those of you who understand this kind of thing, just because you sign stars doesn't mean instant success...

The LA Galaxy brought in Donovan and Beckham, but they needed a Juninho, a Keane, and a Ricketts to fill in the holes around them. That's the task ahead for TFC...

Here's Defoe's introduction...
"I have never been more excited, and more motivated, for any challenge in my career,” Bradley said at the press conference. “What they’re trying to build here is really special, something really unique and different from anywhere else in MLS and North American soccer.”
After seven straight losing seasons, it better be special...

Defoe will remain with Spurs until March 1 before joining the club. Bradley is expected to part in the club’s pre-season preparations, and TFC opens the 2014 MLS regular season March 15 at Seattle.

How Not To Kill Time Waiting For An Away Game

((HT: Sportsnet/SI, Grant Wahl))

Let's face it... Toronto FC are gawdaful this season in MLS... losers of their first nine games, they're now 1-10 and have already fired their head coach this season. The only thing keeping them from having the most anemic offense in the league is that the Philadelphia Union have played one more game than TFC.

Want proof...??? Here's highlights of TFC's 2-mil loss to Sporting KC last time out...
((HT: GOLTV/MLS))


So, you're in town waiting for a game with the Houston Dynamo Wednesday... how does one spend their time...???

By getting arrested...

Toronto FC players Miguel Aceval, Nick Soolsma and Luis Silva (pictured, thanks Toronto Sun) were jailed for public intoxication last night.

According to a report from the Toronto Sun, the three soccer players were involved in a disturbance outside of some place called "Club Escobar" when the po-po made their appearance.

"Our officers tried to disperse the fight at which time they refused to leave and then began to have verbal altercations with the officers," a Houston Police spokesperson told the Sun.

"One of them ran and so the officer ran and the officer took him into custody," the spokesperson added.

Of course, they did... no word on whether or not the three have been:
A) Bailed out...
B) Will be around for the Wednesday game- dressed out or otherwise...