Fan Reactions

Monday night’s playoff encounter between the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC saw the continuation of a narrative that’ll likely follow TFC for years to come: wherever the club goes, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore are not going to be given a warm reception. It began on October 22 with Toronto’s visit to Atlanta, TFC’s first road match since that unspeakable encounter between the United States and Trinidad & Tobago. It continued on Monday night at Red Bull Arena.

Thursday night’s MLS playoff action provided us with the perfect examples of an exhilarating 0-0 stalemate (Atlanta vs. Columbus earlier in the day) and an entirely forgettable one. The opening 90 minutes between the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City was highlighted by a relatively subdued BBVA Compass Stadium (the Astros might just be the talk of the town at the moment) booing Graham Zusi’s every touch. 

With Coventry City trailing Forest Green 1-0 in English League Two football on Tuesday, one Coventry supporter took issue with his side’s inability to win the ball back and invaded the pitch to help apply pressure near the corner flag. Play appropriately stopped, but with security absolutely nowhere in sight, the fan proceeded to berate his team’s players before showing himself back to his seat.

The lack of security is obviously disturbing, but the hairdryer treatment was somewhat deserved with the team having failed to score in three straight matches now.