Ryan Johnston

Follow TFC and the Champions League with Twitter. I will update from training, on match day and whenever news breaks.

BMO Field ... back in the day.

In honour of Toronto FC's fourth home opener, here are four items that will undoubtedly have an affect on the outcome Thursday night.

The grass:

The arrival of spring is meant to be a sign of renewal. There could be no greater metaphor for this renewal than the lush, green grass at BMO Field. I remember Alecko Eskandarian venting post-match over the plastic surface in 2007, a half-hour or so after an Eddie Johnson goal allowed Kansas City to spoil the homecoming party.

The diminutive Eskandarian would always be critical of the Field Turf and in his departure, several other players picked up on the grudge. The turf would also serve, although unproven, as a deterrent to signing players while forcing others to leave Toronto in pursuit of the proverbial other side.

But now, green with grass, the signings pour in unabated; well knowing that the surface they grew up playing on will be under their boots full-time.

It is sad to see the ol' excuse gone.

Julian de Guzman:

Denílson de Oliveira Araújo, or just Denílson for short, carries the distinction of being the least-productive designated player in MLS history. The Brazilian scored two goals in 11 appearances for FC Dallas before unceremoniously returning to Brazil and the comforts of Palmeiras.

On Thursday, de Guzman will register his eighth game in a Reds' uniform. The defensive-minded midfielder was not brought in to score goals, but rather create. As of now, he has achieved neither.

The North Stand:

'We need to make BMO Field a fortress' was the battle cry ahead of any home date spanning the past three years. It was a head-scratcher; most fortresses are not constructed with three walls and the city's largest patio where the fourth should be. The fortress was quite often more like a funhouse.

Well, finally, someone picked up a Medieval Times menu and realized that BMO could easily be invaded, and quite often was.

The grass is a luxury to visiting teams; the north stand now evens it out.

Preki:

The get out of jail free card expires for the first-year coach on Thursday morning. Sure there will be more cards handed out, but all the tinkering, severed alliances and purported bust-ups will be forgiven with a result at home against a team poised to snatch one of the eight playoff spots TFC so covets.

John Carver used to joke he could hear everything screamed from the first 20 rows behind him at the touchline. If the Reds fall behind at home, Preki will quickly find out what the ex-coach meant.