East Side Stand Up

This is what we're talking about as Toronto FC close in on the one-third point of the season. We look back on the struggles from the last month, recent additions to the side and Kevin Payne's comments regarding the team and what needs to improve. It's an open-ended general discussion on the state of the club, and looking ahead to Columbus on the weekend.

Not that is was in the first place, but it has become a broken record and painful each week to discuss a late goal that sinks TFC. A 1-0 defeat off of a Logan Emory mistake leaves the Reds with nothing but heartache as they did enough to come away with the very least one point. Aside from this, there are still talking points, mostly the premier of Matias Laba and the cooling off of Robert Earnshaw. With San Jose mid-week, Toronto will likely be looking ahead to a 10-day break in order to sort out this poor run over the last two weeks.

The Montreal Impact completely annihilate Toronto FC 6-0 and successfully get the revenge their supporters have been wanting since 2010. To keep it blunt, the Reds did not show up and many of their players were completely shown up by an Impact side who wanted it more. There is no player who can leave the field without blood on their hands and it was an embarrassing loss to halt what was little positive momentum the club had built over the first two months of the season.

What else can you say? It's a headscratcher for sure, trying to figure out what it is that keeps the Reds from being unable to secure the result that slips through their fingers in the final minutes. Again they drop points, this time all of them to the New York Red Bulls, as Toronto truthfully did not look the part for much of the game and it only took a few chances for the Red Bulls to score, while TFC struggled to dictate the play. Looking ahead will Matias Laba make a difference, and beyond the arrival of Tim Leiweke? That might be the only silver lining to look ahead to as Toronto have not consistently been good enough over ninety minutes.

Toronto FC once again, AGAIN, cannot keep their opposition at bay, and at home against Houston this time really should have secured all three points. A 1-1 draw was not indicative of the play through 90+ minutes and this result hurts more than the last three where perhaps only one should have been a lock. Darren O'Dea will be piled on, but TFC should have been able to put a 10-man Dynamo side out of their misery well before. It will be a tough result to handle with the Voyageurs Cup coming up this week. Can Toronto make it five in a row?

Toronto FC, once again, cannot fend off a late surge from opposition as an extra time goal levels the score and the Reds leave Philadelphia with just one point in a 1-1 draw. There is no avoiding a discussion on the referee, however, his performance clouds TFC's performance, that on this day truthfully was not very good. Aside from a few players, most notably Joe Bendik, Toronto still struggle to effectively attack and in hindsight a point is a good result for the team moving forward.

Toronto FC reverse roles with FC Dallas as they come back down the stretch with two late goals by Justin Braun and the maligned Darel Russell. A theme is beginning to emerge with this side, and the mantra from Ryan Nelsen that they need to be tough to beat, is materializing. Real character and determination to the final whistle gave the Reds an earned point and they will need to continue this mentality in the weeks ahead against the likes of Philadelphia, Houston and New York.

How's that for glass half full? The Reds might have quite been able to break the late conceded goal curse, but there are positives to draw on in a 2-2 tie with the LA Galaxy. The return of Luis Silva brought an immediate impact, and Robert Earnshaw continues his scoring streak. Defending still is a concern as there is a question mark over who can cover the flanks as both goals came down the right side. Looking ahead, Toronto will need to tighten the reigns if they are to keep moving upwards when FC Dallas and Kenny Cooper come to town next weekend.

After two promising games, and a huge win in their home opener, the Montreal Impact soundly dispatch TFC despite a strong second half. Two goals in the first half held off Toronto and even with a late surge, it was too little too late. With so much turnaround, against a more cohesive team, Toronto will always be a step off and the next two weeks will be critical in getting the team more players and cohesion.

Toronto FC shock all as they down MLS Cup favourites Sporting Kansas City 2-1 in their home opener. A Robert Earnshaw brace proved last week was no fluke as his early energy this time resulted in a goal and he followed it up with a penalty conversion. The defence held their own through the second half onslaught to put TFC a step ahead of 2012 and give supporters some more optimism in these early weeks of their transition into Season Seven.

Toronto FC begin 2013 much like 2012, and that is with a big, fat zero. The Vancouver Whitecaps defeat the Reds 1-0 and while TFC were able to hang in for ninety minutes, the 'Caps cohesiveness was the difference as the second half was in their favour. For TFC Robert Earnshaw and Kyle Bekker looked the part and now it will be a matter of when reinforcements will arrive to get Toronto into a more competitive state for the upcoming weeks.

That's right ESSU 30/30 is back and timed perfectly with Toronto FC's first match of the 2013 pre-season. Waking the Red's Kristin Knowles comes on board to discuss the team heading into their four match tournament, what can be accomplished over this short period, Ryan Nelsen's official arrival at the club and our expectations for the season.

But Toronto FC have yet to try bringing in a coach with zero experience, halfway through the season - maybe this one will work? Your guess is as good as ours as the lads look back on the last few months that has seen big shake ups at TFC with the appointment of Kevin Payne as well as firing of Paul Mariner and announcement that Ryan Nelsen, currently playing in the BPL. There is no doubt that this is only the beginning of what will another dramatic year at Toronto FC

For all the talk about needing goals and creating a goal difference buffer, in the end all that will matter is a result. Canada down Cuba 3-0 in a match where Les Rouges had well over a dozen clear chances on goal but only finished three. A 0-0 draw between Panama and Honduras means Canada just needs one point to advance to the Hex. Can they go into Central America, learn from their past mistake a month ago and advance to the last round of World Cup Qualifying since 1998? That will all be answered Tuesday night.

Unfortunately that is the M.O. for TFC in 2012 - even with a game that most would have considered a write off prior, during the game TFC found a way to play well enough to earn at least a point, but as has been the story all year, just can't hold on through 90 minutes. It was a tough one to swallow as the team is on a winless streak that is more embarrassing than the start of the year. With only three games left, one has to turn into a win or they will once again go into the record books for futility.

After all, 4-1 is a step in the right direction from 2011's 5-0 thumping and think that's without the 4+ players needed to get the team on track. Toronto FC began brightly with an outstanding strike from Ryan Johnson, but it quickly came undone through defensive mistakes and the gap in organization and cohesion was evident once the final whistle blew. TFC are going through the motions and it is a tough stretch against teams who are still in the playoff picture - no rest for the wicked and it is looking tougher to see when any reprieve will come for suffering fans.

It's time to celebrate the small things in life, like TFC defeating CD Aguila 3-0 in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Reds are lifted by a Terry Dunfield brace as well as a pair of assists from Ryan Johnson, The team now has something to play for in Torreon, Mexico, no matter how unlikely it is they will overcome the mighty Santos Laguna.

Six months after their epic victory, Toronto FC return to the scene and are humbled by the vastly superior LA Galaxy. It was a mismatch right from the opening whistle as the Galaxy midfield overran TFC's and had their way in the 4-2 win. The Reds are now ten games without a win and doubts are mounting on what direction, if at all, this club is going in.

Toronto FC can't hold on to a lead and drop two points against another side lingering at the bottom of the league. TFC draw 1-1 with the Philadelphia Union, a team that represented one of the last real chances for the Reds to get a win in the league. Eric Hassli opened the scoring but once he was out from injury, there was little bite left and Philadelphia were able to level the score in the final ten minutes. With few opponents left that are as poor as Toronto, this season looks to end much like it began.

Because this seven game winless streak is no fun at all. Toronto FC put in one of the most hapless first halves of football seen at BMO Field as even with a last surge at the end, were unable to climb back in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire. Ashtone Morgan and Eric Hassli looked the part, but the midfield was overmatched and in the final third, Chicago were able to finish their chances while TFC could barely muster up any kind of resistance. With Philadelphia coming to town on Saturday, that represents one of the last chances for a win for the Reds this season.