Gäste-Forum » runner-up to Sebastian

This time last week, Montreal was awash with nostalgia for their Expos as Olympic Stadium formed the backdrop to Major League Baseballs weekend residency in la belle ville. On Saturday afternoon, the Impact reclaim the building when they face the New York Red Bulls for the second of three fixtures scheduled at the venue this season. MLSs 19th franchise kicked off their eve of game preparations very early Friday morning with news that 2012s first overall SuperDraft pick Andrew Wenger had been traded to the Union. In return, the Impact picking up from the city of brotherly love Jack McInerney. A raw talent, who just like the Impact, got off to a flyer in 2013. McInerneys Midas touch in front of goal through spring 2013 got such rave reviews it got the attention of Americas favourite German, Jürgen Klinsman - who named the Tennessee native to last summers US Gold Cup squad. Living in this era of instant gratification, the Twitter jury needed no time to deliberate on which club got the better of the deal. It still baffles why in 2012s Super Draft Jesse Marsch took Wenger when the considered opinion was Darren Mattocks. Not meant as a slight to Wenger, its just that Mattocks ticked much more of the better prospect boxes going forward. In a chat I had with Mattocks on the eve of that draft, the young Jamaican said he modeled his game on Liverpools Fernando Torres. Having watched Wenger up close over this time Im still not sure he himself is fully convinced he can fulfill whats required of an out and out striker in MLS. However moving to his home club provides Wenger with perfect opportunity to fulfill his potential and prove all his naysayers wrong. As for the Impact, the diminutive McInerney - whose goal production dramatically dried up as the 2013 season wore on – working in tandem with Di Vaio is a mouth-watering prospect. Learn at the Italians shoulder he most certainly must. Thats for the future. As is which club ultimately reap the greatest rewards for the deal. Saturdays match brings together a pair of teams still in search of their first three-point outing of the season. For those who state the Impacts poor start is merely a continuation of their shambolic under- performing selfs from the end of 2013, how then to quantify the Red Bulls poor start? This was a club which marched quite resplendently to a Supporters Shield title on the back of a sole defeat in their last 10 matches. This season has been a mirror of 2013s 0-2-2 start for the Red Bulls thanks to a 95th minute goal from defender Péguy Luyindula during last Sunday afternoons 1-1 draw at home against Chivas. Nobody needs reminding how the Impact salvaged the late tie against McInerney et al in Chester, PA. Guilty as charged. Hands up. Not only did I think Di Vaio would take at least a few games to get in the groove and find his scoring boots after serving his 3 match suspension I also wondered without his school child friend Alessandro Nesta no longer in tow how that would affect. Apparently not in the slightest. Whether or not the 38-year-old gets to take the same Olympic Stadium pitch with a certain 36-year-old Frenchman stepping out for the Red Bulls is quite literally up in the air. Henry trained with his team this morning at their multi-million dollar training facility in Hannover, NJ where following lunch they were due to board a late afternoon flight to Montreal. Thierry Henrys aversion to so termed plastic pitches is well established in his time in the league. He, along with 2010 MLS defender of the year Jamison Olave, stayed home when the Red Bulls opened their season in Vancouver. My, how they missed Olave as the Whitecaps set upon their opponent with a level and intensity any club will do well to match through the season! Which begs the question - what happens if the Whitecaps host the Red Bulls in the MLS Cup? Having arrived stateside following South Africa 2010, Henry is out of contract at the end of the season. Although not ever one to have the likes of Ellen DeGeneres have him suit up as a store clerk (Henrys more inclined to take the subway to work) there is no denying the additional magic the ex-Arsenal and Barca man has provided MLS. Im told Henry has quite the goal scoring record against the Impact. Goals have been in the shortest of supplies for the Impact so far this season - whilst conversely they are still conceding the softest of goals. As they did through the course of the pre-season. Elementary defensive errors are supposed to be the easiest to iron out as a season progresses. Four of the Impacts next five games are at home – including, as they see it, their real home opener at Saputo Stadium on April 26 against McInerneys old flame the Philadelphia Union. There can be no more excuses. Unless a fully 90-minute focused team shows up and even without the services of one of the most feared strike forces at their disposal you can be sure the Red Bulls will exploit a team low in confidence and likely at its most vulnerable since Davy Arnaud led them out in Vancouver back in March of 2012. An expected crowd of 25,000 plus will be hoping that team which started 2013 so magnificently rediscover that form. As does the Impacts new recruit who will take the Olympic Stadium action in from his suburban Philadelphia home. Dont be surprised after last Saturdays unprecedented show of emotion and walk down Expos memory way if the aroma of peanuts and crackerjack is still in the air. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Montreal Impact vs. New York Red Bulls live on TSN Radio 690 (TSN690.ca) Saturday 4pm et - Rick Moffat [@RickMoffat] and Grant Needham [@GrantNeedham] with your call. Shannon Stewart Blue Jays Jersey . With nothing tangible at stake, the Raptors turned in their most impressive outing of the fall in their seventh and second to last exhibition tilt against their stiffest competition yet, but they lost a couple starters in the process. Justin Shafer Jersey . A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/3536h-jaco...-blue-jays.html. Lynn was tied for 16th entering the fourth round, six shots behind leader Paul Waring. He started with two birdies and added three more on his last five holes at the Oceanico Victoria course for an 18-under total of 266. 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The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte.ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Former champion Jenson Buttons future remains uncertain, and his fifth-place finish at Sundays Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could yet prove to be his final race in a distinguished Formula One career.Button faces an anxious wait before McLaren announces its driver lineup for 2015 early next month, with two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso widely touted to replace him after leaving Ferrari.The 34-year-old British driver won the title with Brawn in 2009 and finished runner-up to Sebastian Vettel in 2011.ddddddddddddAlonso is being tipped to drive alongside 22-year-old Danish driver Kevin Magnussen at McLaren, even though Button outscored Magnussen in points 126-55 this season, with both drivers getting one podium place each.Magnussen finished the Abu Dhabi GP out of the points in 11th spot. 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