BMO Field Expansion

Earlier I was unimpressed with the MLSE wanting to expand BMO to accommodate a CFL team but with the latest news I think I’m leaning towards the expansion, but just a little. I mentioned a few months ago that an expansion to the BMO field would take away the intimate experience you get watching a TFC game, sure in the eyes of MSLE making the 22,000 seat arena into a 30,000 – 40,000 means lots of $$$$ but it will also mean we will lose our natural turf (real grass) field which was put in when TFC played Real Madrid.

I am happy to hear that the MLSE is pumping in $90 million of the $120 million it is going to take for this revamp, sure I still think that the seating size was fine considering where the stadium is located but with the upcoming Pan Am games the added seats make sense. Timing couldn’t be better for this, Pam Am games, Argos looking for a new home and with 95% of the season seats sold the extra added means I can actually go to a game without spending 100’s. Seriously, scalpers … you were selling a $25 ticket for $250, ridiculous.

My main issue with the expansion was what will happen to the grass, hosting both TFC and Argos on an open concept stadium would be bad for the pitch, awhile back I saw a video (below) on what Wembley Stadium in England did where they planted synthetic grass combined real grass to strengthen the playing field. Hopefully BMO does the same thing or at least something better with the $120 million budget.

Diving is an Olympic Sport

As I was watching the games this past weekend I could not believe the blatant diving the occurred, but this is common place in today’s game. When challenging a ball where contact occurs I agree with embellishing  the foul to gain a free kick but the video below titled “It’s an Easter miracle, Suarez rises from the dead” on most sites is one example of how diving should needs to be dealt with by the league heads.

As I mentioned before that I understand that over acting a foul can put you at an advantage but it makes you look like such a terrible person, especially when you don’t even make contact with the other player.

The referee saw the whole play, if Liverpool did not push the ball after the tackle on Suarez there would be a definite free kick but what if after Suarez got to his feet after what seemed like his leg was tore off, received the ball and scored. Would that be a goal? Yes it would because the league does not call back goals and Suarez would be branded the villain as he is right now. He continues, along with many other players to make these blatant dives and it has been ruining the game forever. Sure, he did limp around and seem like he was in pain after the play stopped and I know he probably ran because he wanted to score for his team but COMMON! He is notorious for this type of stuff. He is such an amazing talent but oh man, this guy is one of the worst players when it comes to diving, HE EVEN BIT A PLAYER!

Check this video out of Suarez's antics:

All leagues need to get their act together and start handing our suspensions and harsh fines for these Oscar winning performances! FIFA finally decided to add goal line referees let’s hope some more changes can be made.

Mini Bio - Dejan Jakovic

Toronto to Washington to Japan with stops all around the world, Dejan Jakovic is a seasoned pro playing in J-League’s division 1. From the beginning he captained his high school team (Scarlett Heights Entrepreneurial Academy) where is was easy to see that he would one day excel in this sport, Dejan was amazing to watch, he is a natural with high soccer IQ and made his high school team that much better, he was a true captain and acted as a player coach on and off the field without being asked. Scarlett heights went on to two finals with an undefeated regular season senior year with Dejan at the helm. He came to Canada at the age of 6 from Croatia with his parents prior to the Croatian war in 1991. During his teens Dejan was a part of the Canadian national youth program and played for Woodbridge Strikers who are a two time Ontario Cup winner with him on the roster,

Dejan acceptable a scholarship with University of Alabama where he played four years, in 2008 he joined Red Star Belgrade where he started 3 games but did not see the pitch after a new coach was appointed. In 2009 he brought his skills back overseas and signed with D.C. Untied of the MLS where he played until 2013, as you can imagine his friends and family were thrilled by the news of being able to see him play professionally on home soil while visiting TFC. Dejan controlled the back line and started nearly all (26) 28 games for the club as was a regular call up for Team Canada during the Gold Cup, Olympic and World Cup trails/tournaments.

Dejan is currently playing for Shimizu S-Pulse D1 J-League.

We will catch up with shortly and get a glimpse of a pro athlete making the jump overseas, if you have any questions for him please send them in or place them in the comment section.

Practice Makes Perfect

Season is over, lost in a shootout but had a few cold ones to make everything better. No one likes losing a game on any level no matter how many millions you’re paid or how many bucks you spend to play, a player goes onto the pitch with winning on the mind. One thing I have learned over the years is to take the advice from others, many will think when you are being screamed at during a game by your very own teammates is in a negative way but it always boils down to the passion a player have that comes off as screaming. But, there are a few things that anyone can take advantage of to better yourself as a player and team.

Many playing recreational do not have time to practice as a team but that does not mean you don’t have time to work on yourself. Go for a run to keep yourself conditioned and practice on dribbling a ball around in a field or backyard, set some cones up and practice passing through them or make yourself a circuit. Be sure to work on juggling the ball, this will not make you a better player by being the best juggler but it will improve your touch on the ball.

Know the positions of the soccer team, if you don’t know where or what a players position is you will be forever confused. Learn the lingo, its called a pitch not a field.

When attacking a ball go for the ball, don’t be afraid to go into a tackle and don’t just stand there waiting for a reaction because you will be left in the dust. Another alternative is jockey the ball, this is running with the player slightly in front of them, you move along with the player keeping the ball between the both of you while shutting down any passing lanes available.  

But most of all make sure you have centre mid who can control the ball, many people get together to make a team and always have forwards and defenders but always forget to have a centre midfield that can receive and distribute the ball and is able to control the games. This sounds like a tall order, but a player like this will improve your team and improve you as an individual by playing structured soccer.