Welcome back to the latest instalment of the MLS Experiment. We left off last time with Toronto getting off to a miserable start to the season and morale well and truely in the basement. Lets see if things improved…
Before I carry on, one thing that I did notice was that there was no “Match Preparation” available which may account for Toronto’s poor start as I’m unable to blend a new squad together or select a special area to focus on like defending.
We were desperately unlucky in our first game in May as Salt Lake snatched a late goal to tie the game 2-2 but back at BMO Field the following week we finally got out first win of the season with a goal from Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario against the Chicago Fire. We got two nice victories in California against LA and San Jose but then threw away potential winning situations in our last two games of the spring semester by conceding late goals. Fatigue I’ve noticed is a big factor Toronto players.
We have improved our position a little bit in the standings but find ourselves a good seven points behind the front runners Kansas City and DC United.
Aside from the MLS there’s an additional tournament called the Canadian Championship which is a round robin affair featuring Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The winner qualifies for the North American Champions League. In real life Vancouver have joined MLS this season and Montreal will become a member in 2012 so they are decent opposition for us. In fact they were too good for us particularly the West Coast outfit who have ran away with this competition in which we now have no hope of qualifying for the North American Champions League with one game remaining.
Mid June saw the American transfer window open but this was to only buy foreign players. I had a Brazilian striker, Maicon Santos on loan from a lower league side but sent him back to South America which allowed me room in my international player allowance to pick up fellow Brazilian Gil who has played for Corinthians and Flamengo. Hopefully he will add something to my struggling “left flank” tactic.
A few days before the end of the month this message arrived in my inbox which pretty much said get rid of players before July 1st otherwise they still count towards the salary cap even if I’ve sold or waived a player after that date.
What the heck!!!! This led me to placing a couple of players on the waivers list who I’d picked up on free transfers at the start of the season but had really not performed at all.
Here are my top 5 rated players over the last couple of months with ML Moreno from Brazil the best of the bunch. He really has flourished over the last 60 days and has been instrumental in setting up the few goals that we have scored.
The morale although still not good has improved since last time and I hope that continues to go on the rise but only good results will maintain that progress.
We start the summer session with back to back home games commencing with the Western Conference leaders Houston and then taking on current Eastern league leaders Kansas City at the end of July. There’s also an interesting double header against New York to round out this set of fixtures.
So, that completes this update which will be the last for a while as I’m going to concentrate on my Cambridge story to get that one through the winter months. You will be all happy to know that I completed my tax returns for this year so all that’s left is to pop them in the post. Hurray!!!!
See you soon and thanks for reading.
Johnny Karp
23 марта, 2011 at 10:22
Kevin, you might have set the assistant manager to handle match preparation, that’s why you can’t access the feature. So check the team settings. The new Brazilian should do pretty well considering his attributes and experience.
kevin
23 марта, 2011 at 11:37
Hi Johnny
Oh heck, forgot all about checking the Team Settings. I probably ticked that Match Prep box when setting the Assistant to the the team talks etc…..Duh!!!!!!!!!!
Darren Smith
23 марта, 2011 at 11:48
I agree with Johnny, the new Brazilian looks good. I think your form has improved an this must show signs of the players settling. This season may well be a right off but you can build for next year. :) Good luck Kevin.
Excessive
23 марта, 2011 at 13:08
Kev mate, I still have no clue what is happening in the crazy world of the MLS but what I got from that is your improving. Little unlucky no to get anything out of the Canadian Cup but Vancouver are a strong team.
Great signing in that Brazilian though, looks like a great winger that with decent experience should push you forward.
And lastly congrats on the finishing of the tax returns haha ;).
Good luck!
hils
23 марта, 2011 at 15:31
Hi Kevin,good improvement from the last post!!!!!!!!! That brazilian looks good!!!!!!!! Good luck!!
Laxeyman
23 марта, 2011 at 16:24
Hi Kevin, well, things are improving and should get better with your new signing Gil, he looks like a good player. The MLS seems pretty confusing, how many games do you play in a season? Anyway, you’re building solid foundations and I’m sure you’ll begin to dominate the league in a couple of years time. Good luck!
Sears
23 марта, 2011 at 16:29
I never once doubted your managerial ability and you’s most certainly worked wonders to turn your teams fortunes around in such a short space of time. Well done Kevin. Hopefully your team can continue their fine form.
Kevin
23 марта, 2011 at 20:34
Hi Darren
I think you may be right about the season. Just have to keep plugging along.
@ Jake
Thanks mate. Gil does look pretty decent and hopefully will lift the team a couple of more places
@hils
Thanks for your comment. Glad you like the new player!!!
@ Laxeyman
Glad you like Gil. The season consists of 30 games plus the play off if we get through.
@Sears
Thanks for those kind words. I hope we can improve too :)
Lye Kuek Hin
24 марта, 2011 at 00:49
Hi Kevin,
Those wins had certainly improved things. The Brazilian looks solid and hopefully he will settle well soon. I believe you will see better results and close in at the top. Good luck.
Kevin
24 марта, 2011 at 08:08
Thank Lye
For sure I’m counting on my new signing to claw our way up the standings.