Preseason is a time for new beginnings - the chance to start

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Preseason is a time for new beginnings - the chance to start afresh with a belief that anything can happen. Blaise Matuidi Jersey . That was certainly true for Toronto FC as they opened up their training camp in Bradenton last week. The troubles and uncertainties that surrounded the club in recent years have been replaced by a new hope and optimism after an incredible offseason transformation that has included the signings of three new Designated Players, Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto. I was in Florida for Torontos first training session. The energy and enthusiasm was on a completely different level compared to other years. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the squad has already been assembled and most of the key pieces are already in place. A far cry from a year ago, when Nelsen was heading into his first coaching job with a preseason squad filled with trialists. "Its a wee bit different, Ive got to admit," Ryan Nelsen told me after training in Bradenton. Its nice to have a proper squad together all pulling in the right direction. As you can see by today, the work ethic is there, the character is there and everybody is extremely excited." The difference compared to 12 months earlier is evident in all areas, but especially in personnel. Over half of the squad currently in Florida were not with the team for preseason in 2013. However, Nelsen and the players are talking up the fact that the core of the team that finished the season is still in place. "We havent changed that much, weve probably changed the same as most teams, but weve done it in big names so it makes it even more dramatic. But thats what we had to do with this club. Thats why what we did last year had method in our madness. Weve got some big names and we will have to gel them in, but its a progression and we have to keep moving the club forward." The theme Nelsens rookie season as head coach was "short-term pain for long-term gain," and things have now changed quickly. With multi-million dollar signings amongst a re-shaped squad, expectations are high. But after dealing with a tumultuous first year with the club, Nelsen laughed off the suggestion that there is pressure on him to find a winning formula quickly. "Theres absolutely no pressure," he said. "Whenever you put yourself in a situation where youve brought in good players, everybody else thinks there is expectation but for us we just try and improve every day. In everything we do, we try to become perfect. Whatever people think from outside we dont really care." "I knew the league last year but we didnt have the right pieces to be successful. Now I think we are moving in the right direction, but Im still learning as well. Ill always keep learning. When I stop learning I may as well give up," he said. Theres a new face heavily involved in Torontos training sessions this preseason. Englishman Adrian Lamb has joined the club as Fitness Coach. He has previously worked with Newcastle United, Preston North End and Aston Villa, and he was at Blackburn Rovers during Ryan Nelsens time as a player at Ewood Park. Nelsen told me Lambs preparation and attention to detail is immaculate, and that was easy to see during my time in Bradenton. He has very clear ideas of what he wants from the players and was impressive in the way he communicated to them. Lamb will bring a very professional approach to the teams conditioning this season and will be a key addition to Nelsens staff. In 2013, Toronto FC won just six matches and missed the playoffs by 20 points, but Nelsen and his staff have now been handed the tools they need to turn the ship around. The foundation for success will be laid over the next six weeks, as Nelsen and Co. make sure their team is ready to hit the ground running when the season opens in Seattle on March 15th live on TSN. Benjamin Stambouli Jersey . The 28-year-old from Rochester, Alta., was selected by the Redblacks from the Saskatchewan Roughriders roster in the 2013 CFL Expansion Draft. Odsonne Edouard Jersey . Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist as Phoenix held on to snap a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. http://www.psgsoccershop.com/c-16-alphonse-areola-paris-saint-germain-fc-jersey.aspx .Brazil midfielder Ricardo Goulart scored the winner in the 50th minute to give the defending champion a four-point advantage in the standings over second-place Sao Paulo, which beat rival Palmeiras 2-0.Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - LeBron James joined Mark Price at the top of the Cleveland Cavaliers all-time 3-pointers made list in style. James go-ahead triple with 48.1 seconds left lifted the Cavaliers to a 105- 101 win over the Toronto Raptors that upped Clevelands winning streak to eight games. The game was tied 99-99 before Kevin Love pump-faked from the left wing beyond the arc, dribbled to the left elbow and dished to James, who knocked down the trey from straightaway for the 802nd 3-pointer in his Cavs career. Kyle Lowry got the much larger Tristan Thompson guarding him on a switch at the other end on the left wing, but Thompson forced him to take a tough fadeaway from the left baseline and Lowrys shot hit the top of the backboard. Lowry was then called for an intentional foul on James Jones near midcourt, and James made the foul shot with 14.2 ticks remaining for a four-point cushion. Cleveland, though, was whistled for a 5-second violation on the ensuing inbounds. Terrence Ross dunk with 4.2 seconds to go cut the gap to 103-101, but Kyrie Irving sunk a pair of foul shots to seal the outcome. Toronto shot 58.1 percent (38-of-62) through the first three quarters and led by as many as 10 in the fourth, but Cleveland held the Raptors to a 30 percent (6-of-20) clip in the final frame. The Cavs outscored them 20-6 in the final 8:37. In the fourth quarter we really amped up our defensive intensity, Cleveland head coach David Blatt said. That was a tough, hard victorry. Maxwell Jersey. James finished with 35 points, Love posted 17 points and nine rebounds and Irving added 13 points and 10 assists for Cleveland, which beat Toronto for the second time in five days. The Cavs recorded a 105-91 triumph over the Raptors Friday in Toronto. The eight-game run in is Clevelands longest since it also won eight in a row in March of 2010. Lowry supplied 16 points and 14 assists, while Jonas Valanciunas provided 18 points and 15 boards for the Raptors, who have dropped four of their last seven since a 13-2 start. Landry Fields dunk capped a 7-2 Toronto spurt late in the first to help it establish a 31-23 advantage prior to taking a 33-26 margin into the second. The Raptors remained in front until the fourth. Toronto led 63-55 at the break and were up by as many as 14 in the third before settling for an 88-81 spread going into the final period. After Patrick Pattersons floater staked the Raptors to a 95-85 lead at the 3:23 mark of the fourth, the Cavs responded with a 12-2 surge to tie it. Love netted the final five points during the burst, including a triple to cap it and knot the game at 97-97 with 3:50 to go. Game Notes Toronto had won its last 39 games coming in when entering the fourth quarter with a lead ... Cleveland had dropped six of its last eight home meetings against the Raptors heading in ... Lowry was 1-of-8 shooting in the fourth ... Cleveland scored 24 points off 15 Toronto turnovers. 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