.ca has asked the soccer experts what fans can expect

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TSN. Nike Air Max 90 Goedkoop .ca has asked the soccer experts what fans can expect from Canadas MLS franchises in 2012. Coverage continues today with a preview of Toronto FC by TSN Radio 1050s Gareth Wheeler. Will the team be able to turn the corner in its sixth season and finally reach the post-season? What impact will the teams pair of high draft picks have on the 2012 squad? Will Torsten Frings be enough to push the team into the top half of the league? Read on for Gareths take and be sure to check back in over the next two days for what to expect from the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps. Consistency breeds success. Thats the hope for Head Coach Aron Winter and Toronto FC entering the clubs sixth season in Major League Soccer. The five previous seasons were marked by regular wholesale changes to the roster and coaching staff. And the infamous record of being the only team in MLS history failing to qualify for the playoffs in their first five years is ugly proof of previous dysfunction. Change of a different kind took place at the club this off-season: very few changes of any significance were made to the team at all. And its this newfound stability that gives reason to believe brighter days are on the horizon. Winter enters his second year in charge at TFC. His first season at the helm was one of education and experiment. The process was progressive, but the results were often not pretty. Toronto FC conceded the most goals (59), scored the second fewest (36), and ended with the worst goal differential (-23) in MLS. But the numbers only tell part of the story. Winters arrival last January gave him very little time to prepare and with the cupboards rather bare, the Dutchman - along with Director of Player Personnel Paul Mariner - rebuilt the team on the fly. By mid-season, the squad had been re-invented through multiple trades and the signing of two new Designated Players, striker Danny Koevermans and former German International midfielder, Torsten Frings. With the injection of pedigree came professionalism to the roster, short on experience and years. Positive results followed suit. Toronto FC ended the season on a five-match unbeaten streak, including unexpectedly advancing through the CONCACAF Champions League group stage. Winters squad is not yet a complete package but his side does have a proper mix of youth and veteran experience, with requisite attacking flair. While questions remain at the back, the team made enough progress over the last 14 months under Winter to expect Toronto FC to be a part of the playoff equation: MLS Eastern Conference is wide-open. The door is open for Toronto FC to take advantage. 2011 Finish: Eighth in Eastern Conference (6-13-15). Did not qualify for Playoffs. Key additions: D Jeremy Hall (trade with Dallas), M Reggie Lambe (Intl signing), D Miguel Aceval (Intl signing). Key subtractions: M Nathan Sturgis (trade with Houston), D Kyle Davies (waived), M Matt Gold (waived), M Leandre Griffit (waived), F Javier Martina (waived), D Demitrius Omphroy (waived), D Eddy Viator (waived), M Gianluca Zavarise (waived), D Danleigh Borman (MLS Re-Entry Draft), F Mikael Yourassowsky (waived), D Andy Iro (option declined), F Peri Marosevic (option declined), M Elbekay Bouchiba (waived). SuperDraft: M Luis Silva (1-4), D Aaron Maund (1-12). STARTING XI Goal: Stefan Frei Defence: Ty Harden, Torsten Frings, Miguel Aceval Midfield: Richard Eckersley, Julian de Guzman, Eric Avila, Ashtone Morgan Forwards: Ryan Johnson, Danny Koevermans, Joao Plata THE BENCH Goal: Milos Kocic Defence: Jeremy Hall, Doneil Henry, Aaron Maund Midfield: Oscar Cordon, Terry Dunfield, Reggie Lambe, Luis Silva, Matt Stinson Forwards: Keith Makubuya, Nick Soolsma Plan of Attack: Winters tactics were a great unknown coming to MLS. The much talked about Dutch Revolution and the influence of total soccer was often tough to evaluate with an ever-changing roster and many players not suited to play a more brave, possession game out of the back. Fan favourite, the diminutive Joao Plata and Jamaican winger Ryan Johnson flourished towards the end of the season. Both are fit, pacey, and cause all kinds of problems down the wings. Johnson has particularly looked bright in the pre-season, also having scored Internationally for Jamaica last week. Plata will have to learn to adapt his game, improving his distribution to become a more complete player. Winters superior tactical wherewithal saw his team surprisingly start matches in a heavily attack-minded 3-4-3 at times. Three at the back was hardly preferable, but with few capable defenders fit, Winter played to his teams strength and earned Toronto FC points in games they were clearly out-matched on paper. Stability at the back is mandatory for success in 2012. Without a traditional leader at the back, Toronto FC relies on system on the ability of the wingbacks to get forward to change shape. Bringing right-back Richard Eckersley to the club on a permanent deal was the most important business of the off-season and the future is now for Ashtone Morgan, with Canadian U-20 Player of the Year winning the position on the left-flank. If the back-four struggles early, Winter will be tempted to deploy his star player Frings at centre-back, much like he did last season. The team Captain prefers to sit in front of the defenders in the city of the park, where he has a greater influence on proceedings. Frings, alongside fellow Designated Player, Julian de Guzman combine to make for one of the most effective defensive midfields in MLS. The Canadian International stepped up his game late in the season with better talent around him and a more defined role. De Guzman will miss Wednesdays CONCACAF Champions League match against the LA Galaxy through suspension. Winter has plenty of cover in the middle of the park (Dunfield, Stinson, Avila); easily Toronto FCs greatest position of depth. Up front, Danny Koevermans will be expected to do the heavy lifting for a team looking for secondary scoring. Outside of Koevermans eight goals, no member of the current squad scored more than three. Winter is hoping rookie Luis Silva takes some pressure of Koevermans, making a smooth transition into the traditional number 10 role as facilitator and goal scorer. Home and Away: Two players for Toronto FC fans to watch this season - one home grown and one imported from overseas. No squad player benefitted more from opportunity afforded by the youth movement last season than Canadian left-back Ashtone Morgan. A product of Toronto FCs Academy, the 21-year old made 14 MLS appearances in 2011, as well as appearing in all 8 CONCACAF Champions League matches. Morgan was rewarded for his efforts with a call-up to the Canadian Mens National team and was named U-20 Player of the Year. Technically gifted attacking down the flank, Morgans challenge is develop defensive consistency while filling out his frame. If he continues to progress, Morgan will be in the discussion for a call-up for Canadas World Cup qualifiers this June. Morgans a likeable young player, and looks to be the poster boy for the TFC Academy program, which continues to grow under new Academy Director Thomas Rongen. The single-most important player for Toronto FC this season will be striker Danny Koevermans. The former Dutch International notched eight goals in 10 matches after arriving at the club in July, showing requisite physicality in front of goal, complemented by a deft scoring touch. The 33-year old DP is the only traditional out-and-out centre forward on the roster. Staying healthy will be of the utmost priority for club and player, with Koevermans already leaving a pre-season match early as a precaution for hamstring tightness. The schedule and travel in MLS make staying fully fit a uphill battle. Any lengthy lay-off for Koevermans without proper back up at centre forward could be problematic for a thin front-line. With an additional International roster spot at their disposal, finding coverage for Koevermans may turn into Toronto FCs top priority as the season progresses. Supporters Shield: Which Toronto FC player is destined to become a fan-favourite in 2012? Toronto is a city that loves its blue-collar players. The city gets the best of both worlds – grit and quality – in team Captain Torsten Frings. Quality like Frings does not go unnoticed in the soccer-savvy city. And Frings could very well replace incumbent Joao Plata as fan favourite if his inspirational performance lead Toronto FC up the standings in 2012. The 35-year old answered any critics questioning his motive and commitment in joining Toronto FC with standout performances and unmatched on-field leadership. No player was more important to the teams late season turn-around, even deputizing centre-back when called upon. Its cliché, but Frings essentially serves as another coach on the field. Toronto FCs Captain has seen it all as a World Cup runner-up and 15-year veteran of the Bundesliga. Some may be wary of his age, but Frings hasnt shown signs of slowing down. Hes still a key contributor on set pieces and his experience as a ball winning centre-midfielder is an asset the team will rely on to turn around a porous away record from a year ago. Strength of Schedule: While an opening date against the leagues second-best regular season squad from last season (Seattle) is less than desirable for the Reds, four of the teams next five matches are within the friendly confines of BMO Field. The only road game in that stretch comes against the expansion Montreal Impact. If the team can right the ship early in the year it could provide a huge confidence boost as the summer schedule beckons. Canadian Match-Ups: Saturday, April 7 @ Montreal; Wednesday, June 27 @ Montreal; Wednesday, July 11 vs. Vancouver; Saturday, October 20 vs. Montreal. Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse Kopen . The top-ranked Czech Republic will visit Canada for a first-round tie Feb. 7-8, 2015. "This will be our first World Group tie and the team knows that no matter who the opponent, it will be a very talented team that is one of the best in the world," Canadas Fed Cup captain Sylvain Bruneau said in a release. Nike Roshe Run Sale . 31 as the deadline to submit an Olympic hockey roster, the deadline has changed. After appeals from some top European countries - namely Russia, Sweden, Finland and Czech - over the past 24 hours, the National Hockey League, NHL Players Association and the IIHF agreed to move the date to Jan.NASHVILLE -- The Pittsburgh Penguins needed a boost to snap a three-game skid. They got it from Tanner Glass, who blocked shot after shot after shot by Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber. Glass got in front of five shots, Matt Niskanen scored his second goal of the game 7:29 into the third period, and the Penguins beat the Predators 3-1 on Tuesday night. "We saw Tanner Glass come up with some huge blocks in the first period on Shea Weber," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "Three in a row on probably the hardest shot in the league taking those, and they did a great job and again we stuck with it. ... I thought we got a great win for our team." Glass said his job is to be in the lane when Weber is trying to shoot on the power play. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said the blocked shots off the stick of the Predators defenceman provided a lift similar to a big goal or a fight. "You know its coming hard and heavy," Fleury said of Webers shot. "But (Glass) still goes and makes the save. My hat goes off to him." The Penguins helped ruin the return of Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne in his first game since Oct. 22 following an E. coli infection in his surgically repaired left hip. Niskanens winning goal came during a power play. The NHLs best unit went 1 for 5 with the man advantage. Sidney Crosby found Niskanen for a slap shot that went under Rinnes glove. "Hes a really good goalie, and he is very tough to beat," Niskanen said. "It was a really great effort by us. A lot of guys did well, and it was a good team effort." Chris Kunitz scored a goal, and Crosby had three assists to add to his NHL-leading point total. The Penguins have not lost more than three straight this season, and this win sets them up for the final three games on their longest road trip this season. Patric Hornqvist scored for Nashville, which has lost two consecutive games. Rinne made 16 saves in his return. He had surgery on his hip on May 9 and needed a seconnd operation because of the infection on Oct. Nike Roshe Run Dames Goedkoop. 24. He rejoined the Predators on Monday after stopping 33 of 35 shots in a two-game conditioning stint in Milwaukee. "Its great to be back," Rinne said. "Its been a pretty long time so it means a lot to me to be able to be back, play at home, and the fans have been great to me. It made me feel really good but still we lost the game and thats tough to take." Fans welcomed him back with a huge roar during introductions and chanted his name after his first big save. Crosby sent a cross-ice pass to Kunitz that Rinne blocked by sticking out his right pad. The two-time Vezina Trophy finalist stopped Kunitz again on a breakaway later in the first period. Nashville thought it had a 1-0 lead when Paul Gaustad had the puck go off his right shin past Fleury off a rebound of a shot by Nick Spaling. But after a long review, officials disallowed the goal because of a distinct kicking motion by Gaustad. "They called it a goal on the ice," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "I looked at it, and there was a motion but it was more of a stopping motion to me. (He) is trying to run to the net and not run over the goalie." The Penguins scored first when Crosby skated around the net and found Niskanen in the right circle for a one-timer that squeezed between Rinne and the post 27 seconds into the second. Nashville answered 12 seconds later as Hornqvists wrister off a rebound beat Fleury. Pittsburgh sealed the win when Crosby fed Kunitz in the slot for a slap shot with 17:05 left. It was the 28th goal this season for Kunitz and the 200th of his career, giving the large contingent of Penguins fans plenty to celebrate. NOTES: Penguins forward Chuck Kobasew played his 600th NHL game after being placed on waivers Monday. ... Pittsburgh has killed 12 straight penalties over four consecutive road games. ... Predators coach Barry Trotz is 6-3-1 in Nashville against the Penguins. ... Hornqvist has two goals and four assists in his last eight games. cheap jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '