Seattle are coming back to town

Day -196 WorldCup2018

It's happening. Short of a Houston miracle comeback, Toronto FC are not just going to get a second shot in two years at becoming MLS champions they are going to get the chance for revenge against Seattle. At halftime they are 1-0 up in the second leg for a 3-0 aggregate lead. December 9th. In Toronto. Updates will be forthcoming, fret not.

And on the T-minus 195 day the World Cup draw takes place. It's a day of excitement. Famous ex-players and random good looking people dressed in flashy, shiny clothes pick balls out of glass pots in a flashy, shiny room with lots of flashy, shiny lights, with Sepp Blatter grinning in the background, probably because he's just grabbed Hope Solo's ass. Oops, Allegedly, I mean. That was four years ago. Now it'll be Gianni Infantino's flashy, shiny head overseeing which country's coach bows his head in despair when they see they are drawn in the same group as Brazil or Germany or Iceland.

I read today that 30 national team coaches will be at the draw tomorrow. Australia don't currently have a coach and Oscar Tabarez, "couldn't be bothered". Maybe it's because Tabarez has been confined to a wheelchair as a result of suffering from Guillain Barre Syndrome for over a year, a disease where the body’s immune system attacks part of the nervous system. I think he can be excused a quite unnecessary trip to Russia, to save himself for the more important trip in June.

Seattle are now up 2-0 and Houston had a player sent off for daring to show a little frustration. A little. "I don't care how many angles you show me, that is not a red card," said the co-commentator. Minor details, right now. Seattle are heading back to Toronto. I wonder if the fans kept the winter coats, gloves and hats they bought last year while their parents, other relatives and friends mocked them because, "you're never going to wear them again."

3-0 now. Flights are being booked. It won't exactly be a green invasion, but Seattle fans we will see you next week.

TFC: Final bound

Day -197 WorldCup2018

Toronto FC: one step closer to redemption, revenge, it was tense. It was scrappy. But a 1-0 win for TFC over the Columbus Crew was enough for a second consecutive MLS Cup final. In European English: Toronto, despite finishing first in the league over the season are now in the playoffs final to decide the season's champions.

Last season, TFC were spectacular and goal-crazy on their way to the final. There was the incredible 7-5 aggregate semi-final win against Montreal. This season it's been a different emotion: hanging on in nerve-wracking close wins. The goals haven't been flowing, the football has been less than confidence-inspiring. Ponderous was a word that came to mind tonight. But then look what happened in the final last year. In a scrappy match, Seattle out-scrapped TFC. Maybe this year TFC have had a good amount of practice and preparation for the mother of all scrap fests.

Today's win came courtesy of the one beautiful moment of the match. I thought it was beautiful at the time. Greg Vanney, TFC's coach said afterwards it was a beautiful goal and Jozy Altidore, the scorer, acknowledged the moment of magic from Victor Vazquez. The man from Barcelona has been an outstanding addition not only to TFC but to the whole league. He doesn't have the ooh and aah tricks, or the spectacular goals so he is probably unnoticed by many spectators across North America. But when you know what makes a good footballer, a player of a different, higher level of quality, then you notice Vazquez. His simplicity, yet thoughtfulness in the way he chooses the right pass or moves to receive the ball to start a move is a pleasure to watch. His brain seems to work harder than any other part of his body. Giovinco is the headline-maker but whenever anybody asks this year who my favourite player is this season, Vazquez is the easy answer.

The goal? Giovinco to Alitdore to Vazquez and then THE pass back to Altidore and the cool finish. Altidore said afterwards that Vazquez "pretty much scored the goal for me." Watch it again and appreciate how perfectly timed and weighted that pass was.

December 9th is the day. Toronto, as the highest ranked team, get to host the final again. It'll be the World Cup final for the city of Toronto, before the World Cup. And it has to be better than last year, doesn't it? Doesn't it?

Chapecoense, one year on

Day -198 WorldCup2018

One year ago today the Chapecoense team was wiped out in that terribly, sad plane crash. Last week, they ensured they will not be relegated form Brazil's top division this season. It's a wonderful achievement for a team that came from nowhere to be in a continental final, only to have to start all over again.

Today, Tottenham proved again that they can't do well in both the Premier League and the Champions League in the same season. It seems to be one or the other and this year the Champions League looks like it's the one.

Tomorrow Toronto FC play Columbus in the second leg of the Eastern Conference final. For TFC it's simple: win and they are in the MLS Cup Final for a second year in a row. And the chance at redemption will be even sweeter as it will take an incredible turnaround from Houston Dynamo to overcome Seattle Sounders in their second leg. Let's not plan ahead here but a TFC-Seattle re-match, in Toronto on December 9th, is a real possibility. Will it happen, will it be colder than last year, will we see the orange ball again and will Seattle have a shot on goal?

Allardyce: bored of being bored

Day -199 WorldCup2018

Under 200 days. You can almost feel it, right? The excitement of the opening match, the worry about how you are going to take time off work to watch your team play, the upsets, the Tim Cahill hat-trick.

At the end of the last English season Sam Allardyce resigned as manager of Crystal Palace. He said that at his age he wanted to do the things with his family that he still had time to do, that he didn't want the stress of managing. Today, it was reported that he is the number one contender for the vacant Everton job. I wrote about how I respected him for being honest and making that decision in May. He was either not honest at all, or he did all the things he wanted to do with his family over the summer and now he's bored and his wife is fed up of him sitting at home only watching football on TV, and talking about tactics at every meal they spend alone together.

Everton, a shambles

Day -200 WorldCup2018

Another short one. Today was the day that I sympathized with fans of Everton. They looked as hopelessly and desperately clueless in their 4-1 loss to Southampton as Aston Villa did a couple of years ago. I just hope for the fans' sake the club don't go for a Remi Garde type of solution. Sort it out Everton. Bring Koeman back.

Beer night

Day -201 WorldCup2018

One beer, she said. We'll go for one beer. Never happens. But it was worth it. And that's why this is all I've got tonight.

Ps. Wolves can't stop winning and are extending their lead at the top of the Championship. But the team in fourth place are keeping up a pretty similar win ratio. And closing in on third. And you now what team I'm talking about......

Egypt

Day -202 WorldCup2018

A happy day in Egypt. The incredible joy at "that" moment. contrasting with the terrible sadness of today. Not right.