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TSN Soccer Play-by-Play Announcer and Analyst

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It was no ordinary pre-match media scrum for Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley following Friday’s training session at Downsview. At the end of a busy sports week in the City of Toronto, questions thrown at Bradley included topics such as the CFL, Toronto Argonauts, grass length, and Mike Babcock’s hiring by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bradley answered them all.

For the record - on Mike Babcock’s arrival with the Leafs: “I’m excited for the Leafs and the City. I don’t pretend to be a hockey expert but I follow things and I know that Mike Babcock’s reputation is second to none.”

On his (and his teammates) preferred pitch type:  “I like it to be as short as possible, it needs to be wet, and that right mix between not too hard and not to soft. We’re very picky.”

And when asked about the Argos moving in: “It’s not something that we’re worried about at all at the moment,” he said. “All you have to do is look at the stadium and this training ground, everything that has been put into our club, to understand the commitment by MLSE to Toronto FC and to our fans. Everybody knows that that commitment is never going to change.”

As well as the hockey, gardening tips, and talk about the club’s new tenants, there was plenty of soccer conversation. For Toronto FC’s future success this season, the most important answer given by Bradley in his near 10 minute chat with reporters was about his role in Toronto FC’s midfield. Bradley has settled at the top of a midfield diamond in the last couple of matches, and on the road against New England last week, was as influential as he has been all season, scoring his first goal of the year.

“It continues to be a work in progress,” said Bradley when asked if the team had now got the right midfield balance. “Over the past few games I think we have started to find a good balance, a good mix in terms of being able to play with the ball and find a good rhythm to attack and be dangerous, but also to be harder to play against and not give as much away. It’s up to us to show that again against Portland.”

Bradley is once again expected to line up as the most advanced midfielder against the Timbers with Benoit Cheyrou at the base of the diamond and Collen Warner and Jonathan Osorio either side. There will be an enforced change for Toronto up front with Luke Moore set to replace the injured Jozy Altidore.

Toronto FC’s performance in their home opener against Houston Dynamo two weeks ago was a massive letdown. They are, however, unbeaten in their last three road matches. It will be important for Greg Vanney’s men to set the tempo early and test a Portland Timbers team that has never won in Toronto and has yet to find consistency in 2015.

Vanney was jokingly asked on Friday whether he’ll be asking for a new contract in light of MLSE’s big spending on Babcock. “Not until I win a few more games,” was Vanney’s response.

Toronto FC against Portland Timbers is live across the TSN network from BMO Field on Saturday at 5pm et/2pm pt. Join Luke Wileman, Janusz Michallik and Kara Lang.