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the assistant coach also pointed to t
Topic Started: Oct 20 2012, 05:41 AM (68 Views)
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BROSSARD, Que. Andre Johnson Womens Jersey . -- Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier has apologized for offending some of the teams fans and promised there will be a French-speaking coach behind the bench next season. Perhaps looking to head off planned protests by some Quebec nationalist groups and an on-going controversy in the media, Gauthier made an apology on Monday for making Randy Cunneyworth the clubs first unilingual English-speaking coach in 40 years after he fired Jacques Martin on Dec. 15. "Were disappointed and were sorry if we offended anybody by hiring someone who is not bilingual right now, but when youre in the middle of a season and youre trying to effect change and youre having the difficulties we were having, you evaluate all your options," said Gauthier. "We felt the best option at this time was to work from within the organization. Those things can be taken care of in due time, but having a bilingual head coach of the Montreal Canadiens is very important and its something that will be part of our decision going forward.". The outcry that followed Cunneyworths promotion to head coach, which was front page news in Quebec, had prompted owner Geoff Molson to issue a statement that the team agrees its coach should speak the language of the majority of its fans and also promised a bilingual coach for next season. The move left Cunneyworth in an apparent lame duck position, but Gauthier said the former players mental toughness and commitment to work would see him through the season. And he did not rule out keeping Cunneyworth, provided he learns French. It hasnt helped that the team is also in the midst of a slump that has its playoff hopes sinking fast, but Gauthier is not ready to throw in the towel on the season just yet. Gauthier wants to see how his club performs as it plays 11 of its next 15 games at home, starting Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, before he decides whether he will be a buyer or seller of talent at the NHL trade deadline. The Canadiens (14-18-7) have lost seven of their last eight games, including a 1-6-0 mark since Cunneyworth replaced Martin on an interim basis. Tempers also look to be frayed among the players, as defenceman P.K. Subban and centre Tomas Plekanec exchanged punches during practice on Monday. "Our objective now is to get back to winning and playing better hockey," Gauthier said. "Were back from a long road trip. "Now we have 11 of the 15 next games here and were counting on that to change the direction of our season." The Canadiens are in an 11-day stretch in which they play only three times, all at home. It will be a prime chance for Cunneyworth to make adjustments to a team that has been glaringly short of cohesiveness and confidence in recent weeks. The Canadiens prepared with a 30-minute meeting, then had a high tempo practice followed by a half hour of work in the gym. Gauthier rarely meets with the media, but talked on this occasion because he could combine comments on the signing on Sunday of defenceman Josh Gorges to a US$23.4 million six-year contract with his annual mid-season review, sparing himself one dreaded news conference. For the general manager, the clubs troubles stem from injuries to veterans like Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez to sub-par performances from some veteran players. He didnt name names, but team scoring leader Plekanec (29 points, -10) and sniper Michael Cammalleri (eight goals) have been among the underachievers, while young regulars like Subban and Lars Eller have struggled. Gomez, Gionta and checking forward Ryan White skated on a side rink and are expected back soon, but Gauthier said defenceman Andrei Markov will not be back before the all-star break at the end of the month. "Its a trickle down effect, because there are people missing and there are veterans not performing as they should, and now there are extra demands placed on young players," Gauthier said. "And if youre going to count on young players to get you out of your problems and if youre getting into slumps, its going to be very difficult." He said the team has blown a lot of leads this season due to mistakes by individual players rather than the teams system of play, but added many of the mistakes are made by "young players that are probably overexposed. "One problem causes another problem and another problem. So we have a lot of work to do to turn this thing around". The Canadiens went 1-5-0 on their road trip to fall to eight points out of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference, leaving a steep hill to climb in the second half. Markov, who has yet to play since signing a three-year contract last summer, will have his reconstructed right knee evaluated by doctors this week. Without him, the normally potent Montreal power play has dipped to 29th in the 30-team league with a 12.8 per cent success rate. Last summer, Gauthier signed restricted free agent Gorges to a one-year $2.5 million contract, but followed that up with a six-year deal for his steadiest veteran on defence. At the time, Gorges was coming off reconstructive knee surgery and the team wanted to see if he would fully recover before committing to along-term deal. Gauthier rarely negotiates during the season, but announced this one right after 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 1, just the time teams are allowed under the collective bargaining agreement to sign played they inked to deals the previous summer. "I dont think its Pierre Gauthiers usual way to sign guys during the season but its more of an extension of negotiations from the summertime," said Gorges. "I said right from the start this is where I want to be. "Yeah were facing some tough times now, but we have a bright future here. We have some good young players coming up and I think with the direction the team is trying to head into, theres only good things in the future. This is where I want to be and where I want to stay." Forward Mathieu Darche called Gorges "our best, most consistent defenceman since the beginning of the year, so its well deserved." Gorges will have a $3.9 million annual cap hit. Gauthier has more than $45 million committed to only 13 players for next season, and has five players headed to unrestricted free agency (Darche, Travis Moen, Andrei Kostitsyn, Hal Gill and Chris Campoli). His restricted free agents include two of the brightest young players, goaltender Carey Price and defenceman Subban, of whom Gauthier said "we have every intention of keeping with the franchise for a long time. "In due time, well address those contracts." Matt Schaub Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. J.J. Watt Jersey . While the Vancouver Canucks winger is again proving to be consistent offensively, he is also trending toward a career low in penalty minutes. http://www.texansteamstore.com/andre-johnson-jersey . The team announced the moves before Saturdays game against the Chicago White Sox. Marcum did not make his scheduled start June 19 because of elbow discomfort. The move to the DL is retroactive to June 15 and he is expected to miss just one more start. Arian Foster Jersey . Although the mens and womens singles champions will each receive a record 1.15 million pounds ($1.85 million), most of the 1.5 million pound ($2.4 million) increase to the overall pot will go to players who lose in qualifying or the early rounds. Arian Foster Womens Jersey . Zhu Jun, who reportedly visited Drogbas native Ivory Coast last week, said the 34-year-old was joining the club, but said no date for his arrival has been set and refused to discuss terms of his contract, the official Xinhua News Agency said.TORONTO -- Four days after falling apart against the San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC has a chance to redeem itself. But it wont be easy changing TFCs fortunes Wednesday night as the struggling MLS side hosts Mexicos Santos Laguna in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal. Toronto has been woefully wobbly of late. The pre-season high of eliminating the MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy in the quarter-finals has been extinguished by worrying league results. After losses of 3-1 in Seattle and 3-0 in Saturdays home opener against San Jose, goalkeeper Milos Kocic says its time to reboot. "San Jose was a big wake-up for us," said Kocic, who was clearly steamed after the Earthquakes debacle. "I want to get out on the field and show that we are worth more than what we showed against San Jose," he added. He isnt the only one relishing the opportunity to author a different outcome. "Thats football, you always have a second chance," said an optimistic assistant coach Bob de Klerk. The other semifinal also opens Wednesday with defending champion Monterrey hosting Pumas in an all-Mexican clash. Mexican teams have dominated the CONCACAF Champions League since the format was revamped in 2008-09. Mexican sides won it the first three years and only one MLS team (Real Salt Lake) has made it to the final. Twelve of the last 16 semifinalists have been Mexican. Part of the reason is the quality of top Mexican sides. Another is that the playoffs fall when Mexican clubs are well into their season, compared to MLS sides that are just starting their campaign. Toronto has already made Canadian club history by progressing this far in the club championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean. For a club that has failed to make the MLS playoffs in its first five seasons (Torontos career MLS record is 40-69-47), this current tournament run has offered a rare chance to shine. Toronto will have to steady the ship against a high-scoring side that currently tops the Mexican league with an 8-2-2 record and has won four straight. "Theyre a very good team," said de Klerk. "If you watched our (CONCACAF Champions League group stage) game against Pumas in Mexico, we had a difficult time over there -- a very difficult match. "And theyre are the highest in the Mexico league, higher than Pumas so that says enough." Pumas, which blanked Toronto 4-0 in Mexico and tied 1-1 at BMO Field, currently stands 14th in the Mexican standings -- 15 points behind Santos Laguna. Santos showed its teeth in the second leg of its quarter-final with Seattle, pouring in four goals in the second half to defeat the visiting Sounders 6-1 on the day and 7-3 on aggregate. Toronto reached out to Seattle scouts for some intel on the Mexicans but it sounds like they did not share that much. "They told us a little bit," said de Klerk. One storyline is worrying -- Santos can score goals and Toronto is having problems stopping them. The Mexican side led the competition in scoring in group play and overall has scored 23 goals in eight games. It stands second in scoring in Mexican league play with 22 goals in 12 games. "t;They have pure finishers," said forward Ryan Johnson, pointing to the likes of U. J.J. Watt Womens Jersey. S. international Herculez Gomez. Gomez is a colourful character who tweets in English and Spanish -- sometimes at the same time as in "Gracias bro." He did his part for improving North American relations off the field by tweeting upon arrival: "Your city is stunning. Absolutely one of my favorites. If you see me around town come and say hi, eh!" He will undoubtedly be less charitable Wednesday. Toronto will be looking to avoid the kind of slow start it exhibited Saturday. "Its very important for all of us to start from Minute One, not to give away easy stuff around the field," Kocic said pointedly. "And fight for every 50-50 ball and be tough on the Mexican team. Dont let them play their game." Expect Toronto to play a physical game against the Mexicans, who may be shivering. The forecast calls for 10 degrees and showers, a far cry from the 30 and rain expected in Torreon at the same time. A good result at home is imperative if Toronto is to have some breathing room in the second leg April 4 in Torreon. "Its going to be a tough place to go," said defender Richard Eckersley. "So this game is massive (Wednesday)." An ideal result would be a shutout win, which may be asking for a lot. Toronto hasnt had a shutout in its last 10 league games. With backup keeper Stefan Frei sidelined with a broken leg, Toronto elected to play it safe Tuesday by keeping Kocic out of a training game. Brian Rowe, one of the leagues designated emergency keepers, and academy goalie Quillan Roberts played instead. Kocic trained with the goalies prior to the game and then went in, explaining later that his leg was a little tired from kicking during the windy San Jose game. During Tuesdays training, de Klerk fielded a backline of Eckersley, Ty Harden, Miguel Aceval and Ashtone Morgan behind holding midfielders Julian de Guzman and Terry Dunfield. New signing Efrain Burgos Jr. played behind an attacking trio of Johnson, Danny Koevermans and Nick Soolsma. De Klerk attributed the recent defensive lapses to players giving too much space and too much time. Like manager Aron Winter, who was absent Tuesday to attend what was called a routine MLSE board meeting, the assistant coach also pointed to the absence of captain Torsten Frings. The former German international, currently rehabbing a hamstring strain, has been the glue in the Toronto backline when healthy. But Kocic refuses to blame injuries, saying the remaining players have to stay focused. "You cant depend on one player. And if hes not here with us, what can you do?" The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League earns bragging rights and a trip to the FIFA Club World Cup. Its a long soccer journey that started last year with Toronto winning the Canadian championship, then surviving the pool stage and quarter-finals. "We didnt come this far to mess it up," Johnson said. "Were two games away from a final," he added. "And I havent been in a final for a while ... Were very close to really achieving something big here." ' ' '
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