This is it! The time to savor history in
the making, as for the first time, Major League Soccer will be witnessing an
all-around Canadian face-off in its Eastern Conference final.
Very well, when two of these arch rivals,
whenever they stage a league match dubbed as the 401 Derby, to honor that
highway that connects both of these metropolis.
For the Montreal Impact and the Toronto FC
squads going for the ultimate of glories and looking forward to play in their
first ever final, whoever is the winner will be netting in their favor those so
called bragging rights.
Possibly as their date with destiny,
scheduled for 11/22 at Stade Olympique in Montreal and looking forward to see a
total sellout to push its Gars forward in the first leg, as the City of Mary
will be hosting the opener of what seems of a much-contested series.
For the host Impact Boss Mauro Biello,
contemplating a complete initial eleven with Didier Drogba finally out of the
disabled list and heading the attack accompanied by their talisman Ignacio
Piatti a man of many battles and heroics delivered to this club.
As Manager Biello sporting a 4-1-4-1 and a
4-3-3 formations in this postseason to counter the absence of Didier Drogba, during
his down time, so far these have paid off for the second year man Montreal
native, as his work has been a continuum for excellence for his Gars.
Since his time in the squad he delivered
back to back playoff appearances as well last campaign being eliminated in
semifinals by the Columbus Crew, still the persistence this man has shown in
his tenure with the impact speak for itself being this time in the conference
grand finale.
This time the tale of the tape will be an
even one final but with his weapons in Drogba, Piatti and Mancousu in the
frontal attack these will be an all-around nightmare for the Reds defensive backfield.
Counting a nice backfield with Bernardello,
Bernier, Donadel and the defensive backfield lead by Ciman, Oyango, Cabrera and
Camara to defend the posts of Evan Bush, as the Impact weights its options as a
total favorite but don’t count its opponent out!
Going to the side of TO or better known the
Boys of the Toronto FC, Manager Greg Vanney that great all American Player, so
far has done his work and delivered a lot of satisfactions here in Hollywood
North.
As the Canadian version of Tinsel Town
after its debut in Major League Soccer and after eight Managers, the Reds front
office finally decided to put a contender in line for its second year manager
and the results finally arrived at BMO Field.
Arming themselves with a frontal attack
headed by Italian international striker Sebastian Giovinco and All American
sensations Jozi Altidore and Michel Bradley- the TFC is pretty even in its
arsenal and can put on a fight against its cross-country foes.
After finally going into the Promised Land
for the second time consecutively, the Reds are looking forward to deliver joy
to its faithful legion of followers in TO, after many years of disappointments,
now they are on the verge of caressing the ultimate of glories.
Alongside their neighbors they are
rewriting history as the first ever north of the Border finalists and being the
ones going against all odds defeating the heavily favorites New York squads and
now going for the ultimate of achievements.
The only minus in this series that there is
only one squad poised to advance into the grand finale to play whoever wins it
between the Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rapids over at the Western
conference, still the TFC is poised and ready.
Still for the TFC Boss Greg Vanney his
first challenge will be to play as a visitor at always tough Olympic stadium at
Montreal, despite the challenge looking difficult but not impossible to net a
favorable score away.
Uplifting the chances for his Reds to make
it to the grand fete of the final, but the prospects of going all the way have
a name and this one is called Montreal, as Manager Vanney during his postseason
run, he really surprised many with his strategies.
Highlighting a strange but favorable 3-5-2
formation that became lethal to the league all favorites NYCFC, making a brick
wall with his five midfielders formation and not so favorable for the opposing
squads.
This time Manager Vanney can repeat his
formation with a trio of aces in his defensive side with Hagglund, Moor and
Zavaleta to protect the posts defended by Clint Irwin and give him a favorable couple
of afternoons.
With a five-man midfield armada in Breitashour,
Morrow, Osorio, Cooper and USMNT operate Bradley to defend and provide for
Atomic Ant Giovinco and Altidore to cause havoc on the Montreal posts.
You can state that the TFC looks and feels
like a favorite to win it all, but at the end I do not give any advantage to
any of these Titans as the tale of the tape looks very even and nothing for no
one, as this series can be for anyone.
Final prediction: A very even series with
no advantage
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property
of © Derik Hamilton and Geoff Burke USA TODAY 2016
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Credit and Property of © Copyright Major League Soccer. com
2016
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