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MFBODD
06-01-2008, 12:04 PM
He's been getting it a bit, especially on this forum, but I haven't read that many comments yet about his play yesterday. Both of our FK specialists, Guevara and Robert, were out yet we still managed to score a goal off a well placed ball by Ricketts... He seemed to play much better in my opinion. We needed him to step up with our midfield being depleted and he seemed to do that. Thoughts?

Ron Manager
06-01-2008, 12:07 PM
Ricketts was great yesterday and seems to be coming into form. I think we have to remember it is an adjustment to come into this league, especially when you consider Ricketts has not had regular minutes for quite some time. I think he will only get better from here and with a kid like Smith chomping at the bit to have his spot, he'll have to.
God I love having depth on this team!

Cambridge_Red
06-01-2008, 12:09 PM
Man of the match.

Blazer
06-01-2008, 12:10 PM
Nobody should have to step it up just because a team is depleted. If you are stepping it up that means you have something extra to give, and it should come at a cost. Ricketts was good yesterday you’re right. I just hate the “stepping it up” cliché in sport as though they’re not already going balls out with or without their stars.

Carts
06-01-2008, 12:11 PM
There's defintely the adjustment factor coming into the MLS...

And there's also the 'freedom factor' yeaterday provided... With Robert & Guerva out, Rickets had more freedom, and was leaned on more (free kicks being perfect example)...

Situations like that can bring the best out in some players - it did with Ricketts, just keep it up lad!

Carts...

ManUtd4ever
06-01-2008, 12:12 PM
I thought Ricketts stepped up and filled the void with the absences of Guevara and Robert with his pinpoint crosses and delivery on set pieces. RR is just starting to regain his form after an extended layoff prior to joining TFC and he will only improve as the season continues...

Bluenose13
06-01-2008, 12:13 PM
Best player on the park yesterday.

LucaGol
06-01-2008, 12:13 PM
I think RR10 really relished the role he had yesterday with Robert and Guevara out.

90% of the attack went through him on the right...by the end of the game he was so full of confidence he was spending more time in the middle of the park and doing very very nice things.

He also delivers some excellent free kicks.

Had a very nice 1-2 with Edu in front of goal. He struck the ball well...shame it didnt go in...place would've erupted and he woulda got to show us the Big Bruva shirt.

ua-kozak_TFC
06-01-2008, 12:18 PM
I thought he had a not bad game yesterday .. but he needs toget fitter which will make him much faster and stop dribling... and concentrate more on passing and less dribling, he tries to drible way too often which makes him very predictable...

jloome
06-01-2008, 12:18 PM
I say it again, that spin move he pulled in the first half, where he tapped the ball backwards over his own head and the defenders, setting up an open passing lane into the box, was crazy talented.

This guy does better the more he plays and the less he has to think about it. When Guevara and Robert are in, their own substantial talent and seniority tends to make them the focus and Ricketts ends out doing a lot of grunt work, like tracking back on the weak side to make tackles.

But he showed yesterday that as an attacker, there aren't many wingers in this league of his potential.

Captain Croatia
06-01-2008, 12:20 PM
MOTM, he did everything yseterday.

He got the ball way more too due to Guevara and Robert being out, and he stepped up.

Well done Ricketts

Ron Manager
06-01-2008, 12:22 PM
I read some comments from Carver about him regaining fitness and form as he was not used to so much playing time and it appears to be the case. He will get better and better and soon we will be seeing this.....

z6hOYcEGBlI

ExiledRed
06-01-2008, 12:22 PM
Nobody should have to step it up just because a team is depleted. If you are stepping it up that means you have something extra to give, and it should come at a cost. Ricketts was good yesterday you’re right. I just hate the “stepping it up” cliché in sport as though they’re not already going balls out with or without their stars.

When a player who is a rookie, or a regular bench player, or like in Attakora-Gyan's case, a reserve team player, is not getting minutes it's because there is somebody playing their position regularly, better than they have been.

'Stepping up' is an acknowledgement that the pressure is on you to perform both for the team and for yourself. A player in such a situation will either do this or fade back into obscurity. It's not about 'giving something extra' it's about finding something extra within yourself that wasn't there before.

Youre wrong about players always going 'balls out' because quite frankly, they dont.

You're right about Ricketts, he doesnt need to 'step up' he needs to prove himself worthy of his resume, which is different from 'stepping up' when you try to prove that you are better than you're resume suggests

Pachuco
06-01-2008, 12:35 PM
Ricketts was the man yesterday. I have to call out Giambac however, your opinion sir?

Red CB Toronto
06-01-2008, 01:06 PM
Rohan is going to do some amazing things this season in Toronto, he just has been getting use to the game played in the MLS and now will use it to his advantage.

MFBODD
06-01-2008, 01:51 PM
Nobody should have to step it up just because a team is depleted. If you are stepping it up that means you have something extra to give, and it should come at a cost. Ricketts was good yesterday you’re right. I just hate the “stepping it up” cliché in sport as though they’re not already going balls out with or without their stars.

Well, I didn't mean to imply that he wasn't "trying" before. "Stepping in up" doesn't always mean going from 90% to 100%. I was referring to the fact that we were missing many of our senior players and we needed Ricketts, who has talent and experience, to assume a role with more responsibility. An example would be the FK that James knocked in. Robert or Guevara would have taken that if they were in the game. With those players missing and others as well you'd expect players like Ricketts to carry more of the play, etc., and he did. Exactly what the team needed.

MFBODD
06-01-2008, 01:52 PM
There's defintely the adjustment factor coming into the MLS...

And there's also the 'freedom factor' yeaterday provided... With Robert & Guerva out, Rickets had more freedom, and was leaned on more (free kicks being perfect example)...

Situations like that can bring the best out in some players - it did with Ricketts, just keep it up lad!

Carts...

Exactly

ensco
06-01-2008, 02:04 PM
Ricketts had at least 5 great plays, including the balls that led to both goals, and a tricky back heel (to Smith I think) in the second half.

But equally, Gullit's scheme was horrible, and to boot the LA mids did a terrible job defending - with Guevara, Robert, and Robinson out, LA should have known to overload Ricketts and force TFC's other MFs, none of whom are known for their skill on the ball, to beat them.

Ricketts was good, but it's also a comment on how lousy LA was.

TFC-4-Life
06-01-2008, 02:06 PM
That was Ricketts best game in a TFC shirt.

Toronto_Bhoy
06-01-2008, 02:28 PM
Sorry but I am still not convinced…he just doesn't show me the intensity or the vision I'm expecting from him. He gives up on passes to him and tracking back…I felt sorry for Wynne.

To me he "plays lazy"…see the number of casual pass that good runs Jarrod and Wynne made yesterday that never got there. His teammates body language tell another story…Brennan twice launched balls across the pitch that he should have got to…Jim was livid when RR gave him the old thumbs up…

Sorry…just my opinion…

rocker
06-01-2008, 02:37 PM
Sorry but I am still not convinced…he just doesn't show me the intensity or the vision I'm expecting from him. He gives up on passes to him and tracking back…I felt sorry for Wynne.

To me he "plays lazy"…see the number of casual pass that good runs Jarrod and Wynne made yesterday that never got there. His teammates body language tell another story…Brennan twice launched balls across the pitch that he should have got to…Jim was livid when RR gave him the old thumbs up…

Sorry…just my opinion…

i didn't see him playing lazy.

it seems like every criticism on this board tends to turn to guys being "lazy".... but then the guys who run like chickens with their heads cut off (but produce nothing) are praised.

sorry, just my opinion.

I just get annoyed at how so many players get tagged with this adjective.. people call Cunny lazy (even tho he ran a lot yesterday) and Robert gets the lazy tag (even tho he runs too... but half the time his team messes up and there's no sense running around after that).

Blazer
06-01-2008, 02:39 PM
Well, I didn't mean to imply that he wasn't "trying" before. "Stepping in up" doesn't always mean going from 90% to 100%. I was referring to the fact that we were missing many of our senior players and we needed Ricketts, who has talent and experience, to assume a role with more responsibility. An example would be the FK that James knocked in. Robert or Guevara would have taken that if they were in the game. With those players missing and others as well you'd expect players like Ricketts to carry more of the play, etc., and he did. Exactly what the team needed.

I wasn’t necessarily disagreeing with what you said. I was just chiming in regarding the nature of sports media today and how they make it out to be this fantastic void that must be filled by the other players. (I.e. stepping up in all sports)

I do think Ricketts played well but I’m not sure he showed any additional responsibility just because he was the next best free-kicker on the club with Guevara and Robert being absent. To me, he was the same old Ricketts who more than anything, played well enough during those other guys’ absence to help us win.

Draracle
06-01-2008, 02:52 PM
he played well yesterday. I think not having Robert and Guevara to defer to forced him to take charge.

Blazer
06-01-2008, 02:52 PM
i didn't see him playing lazy.

it seems like every criticism on this board tends to turn to guys being "lazy".... but then the guys who run like chickens with their heads cut off (but produce nothing) are praised.

sorry, just my opinion.

I just get annoyed at how so many players get tagged with this adjective.. people call Cunny lazy (even tho he ran a lot yesterday) and Robert gets the lazy tag (even tho he runs too... but half the time his team messes up and there's no sense running around after that).

Cite the player who runs like mad, doesn’t produce, and we lay off from chastising?!

Guys that have been flagged as lazy in the past (Fatty Samuels & Cunny) didn’t/ don’t produce at the rate they were expected to, or at all. They deserve it.

Showing more effort = playing better = solution to “lazy” title.

Toronto_Bhoy
06-01-2008, 02:59 PM
i didn't see him playing lazy.

it seems like every criticism on this board tends to turn to guys being "lazy".... but then the guys who run like chickens with their heads cut off (but produce nothing) are praised.



…fair enough…substitute "lazy" with lack of intensity…commitment…too casual…maybe that's his style?

For me he's played…okay…I just expected him to be a cut above…and I have yet to see it.

One thing I will say…he has skill and some nice touches…so why do you think he fell from grace so quickly in the UK? I read a Premiership scout once say that the single reason most "talented" footballers fail to make the grade in the EPL isn't skill, it's lack of commitment/intensity/desire…

Just an opinion…hope Rohan proves me wrong…

Blazer
06-01-2008, 03:06 PM
Agreed, 100%.

CoachGT
06-01-2008, 03:10 PM
I read some comments from Carver about him regaining fitness and form as he was not used to so much playing time and it appears to be the case.


That would explain his being substituted in most of the games he's played in. Carver seems to have his finger on the pulse of the players - one more reason that I'm impressed with him!

ManUtd4ever
06-01-2008, 03:18 PM
…fair enough…substitute "lazy" with lack of intensity…commitment…too casual…maybe that's his style?

For me he's played…okay…I just expected him to be a cut above…and I have yet to see it.

One thing I will say…he has skill and some nice touches…so why do you think he fell from grace so quickly in the UK? I read a Premiership scout once say that the single reason most "talented" footballers fail to make the grade in the EPL isn't skill, it's lack of commitment/intensity/desire…

Just an opinion…hope Rohan proves me wrong…

I agree that Ricketts has the potential to do more than what he's shown thus far and should be a cut above other wingers in the league, but he certainly stood out in yesterday's match. Rohan's percieved lack of hustle in his first few games is merely a reflection of his match fitness which is improving weekly. I think his performance against the Galaxy will be a turning point for RR and he will be significant contributor to TFC's offense from this point on...

Big Bruva
06-01-2008, 03:21 PM
I say it again, that spin move he pulled in the first half, where he tapped the ball backwards over his own head and the defenders, setting up an open passing lane into the box, was crazy talented.

This guy does better the more he plays and the less he has to think about it. When Guevara and Robert are in, their own substantial talent and seniority tends to make them the focus and Ricketts ends out doing a lot of grunt work, like tracking back on the weak side to make tackles.

But he showed yesterday that as an attacker, there aren't many wingers in this league of his potential.

Very good eye and the coaching staff know that.

Fiin
06-01-2008, 03:24 PM
RR played brilliantly yesterdy, i\ts what I was saying before, more open field for him.. the midfield atm is so jumbled full of people I dont think he was getting the room rto shine, in the 4 person midfield hwever he did.

And I also thought his setpeice work was very crisp and clean. Hopefully we see this RR more often.

Jamaicanadian
06-01-2008, 03:40 PM
I thought he played well yesterday....
Wish Cunny coulda finished the wicked cross at the start of the game...
The guy showed flashes of brilliance all afternoon!!

kelzag
06-01-2008, 03:46 PM
Good on RR getting his first assist and showing the crowd the Big Bruva tells no lies t-shirt! Had the pleasure of meeting him at the Kickoff Party and he's total class.

deeznutz
06-01-2008, 03:48 PM
im sorry but he fucking rocked yesterday people!!!

2 assists!!! enough said!

ThunderBaby
06-01-2008, 03:51 PM
I thought RR did a great job yesterday, the team played well on the whole, more aware of each other and LA to keep LA`s shots on goal to a min. IMO, we can only keep getting better and better as each player finds his groove and Carver's coaching.

AL-MO
06-01-2008, 06:50 PM
Ricketts defintely played better yesterday. It was great seeing the free kick he took end up in the back of the net...hopefully this will give him some confidence going forward!....with that said I still think at times he takes too many touches on the ball while out on the wing and needs to be more 'direct'...but he was definitely improved yesterday..

Northern Soul
06-01-2008, 07:35 PM
Best player on the park yesterday.

Agreed. He showed what he is capable of, and I look forward to seeing more of that from him.

Raging Reggie
06-01-2008, 07:38 PM
I think next to Guevara hes got the best feet on the team, amazing skill getting past people and brilliant ball control. I was well impressed with him. Also liked mentioned earlier i think hes not really match fit, he needs to get off the skittles maybe? But hes going to get better for sure, and it seems earlier he was struggling with a bit of confidence. But after yesterdays game im sure that will pick up. And i didnt see him flash the Big Bruva shirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

adammac
06-01-2008, 09:10 PM
The hope for me is that he can build on what he did yesterday and continue to become better because I believe (and hope) it was a turning point to what so far IMO has been a average start to his MLS career.

ua-kozak_TFC
06-01-2008, 09:14 PM
im sorry but he fucking rocked yesterday people!!!

2 assists!!! enough said!
2 assists?? LOL what game were you watching? the second goal was smith's pass/flop

joel
06-01-2008, 09:22 PM
He's improving, keep it up!

RYANTFC
06-01-2008, 09:29 PM
Rohan Ricketts
Fuckin Wicked

Pachuco
06-01-2008, 09:32 PM
:rolleyes:
2 assists?? LOL what game were you watching? the second goal was smith's pass/flop

In hockey, he would've got both assists. Ro's ball to Cunningham is what made that play happen. But since this isn't hockey, WHO CARES!! what the man is trying to say is that he certainly had a part to play in both goals.

James Oliphant
06-01-2008, 09:33 PM
Nobody should have to step it up just because a team is depleted. If you are stepping it up that means you have something extra to give, and it should come at a cost. Ricketts was good yesterday you’re right. I just hate the “stepping it up” cliché in sport as though they’re not already going balls out with or without their stars.

You're missing the point. With Guevara and Robert in the lineup, teammates will rely on him more than Ricketts. With Guevara and Robert out, the team was bound to lean on Ricketts as a playmaker. Ricketts, therefore, had to up his game. Thankfully, he did.

No one was implying that Ricketts was playing soft in previous matches. Just that his teammates had to rely on him more because of the absences.

Just to add to this, I still want to see Ricketts going forward with the ball a bit more...the way Wynne does, pushing it past defenders and then blowing by them, as opposed to stopping, doing a couple crossovers, then making a pass. Push like you've got the wheels, son...we all know you're quick, so why don't you?

Big Bruva
06-02-2008, 12:14 PM
:rolleyes:

In hockey, he would've got both assists. Ro's ball to Cunningham is what made that play happen. But since this isn't hockey, WHO CARES!! what the man is trying to say is that he certainly had a part to play in both goals.


lol if it was Hockey he would of had quite a few assists before the assist as he sometimes makes the pass that leads to the assist or gets fouled with then leads to an assist (Roberts goal and Roberts assist against Montreal for eaxample)

I just watched the game and RR played very well. I thought he got forward well and also defended well. He was depended on more to create etc as Laurent and Amado were not playing and did so instead of doing a lot of doggy's like he has in previous matches. His fitness is getting better and that will only help him.

Cunny score due to the kinda player he is, he pace like i have said before will often create chances but you just hope he finshed his fair share of them and he got one on Saturday.

Smithy played pretty well and his confidence is up there, i spoke to him about the break away and he didn't wanna talk about it lol he did fail to find a man on two or three (3 on 2's) if that was RR i would be reading about it lol i love this board lol

Edwards look very confident and has a certain swagger about him which is very good for a keeper, it looked like the game was easy for him.

Mo looked lively and confident and so he should after playing at Wembley and against England.

Im happy JJ got his first goal and on his debut coz he has been waiting for his chance, im also glad it was RR that assisted for his memory as they are pretty good friends.

I never saw RR flash the Big Bruva T-Shirt, im pissed

ManUtd4ever
06-02-2008, 12:24 PM
lol if it was Hockey he would of had quite a few assists before the assist as he sometimes makes the pass that leads to the assist or gets fouled with then leads to an assist (Roberts goal and Roberts assist against Montreal for eaxample)

I just watched the game and RR played very well. I thought he got forward well and also defended well. He was depended on more to create etc as Laurent and Amado were not playing and did so instead of doing a lot of doggy's like he has in previous matches. His fitness is getting better and that will only help him.

Cunny score due to the kinda player he is, he pace like i have said before will often create chances but you just hope he finshed his fair share of them and he got one on Saturday.

Smithy played pretty well and his confidence is up there, i spoke to him about the break away and he didn't wanna talk about it lol he did fail to find a man on two or three (3 on 2's) if that was RR i would be reading about it lol i love this board lol

Edwards look very confident and has a certain swagger about him which is very good for a keeper, it looked like the game was easy for him.

Mo looked lively and confident and so he should after playing at Wembley and against England.

Im happy JJ got his first goal and on his debut coz he has been waiting for his chance, im also glad it was RR that assisted for his memory as they are pretty good friends.

I never saw RR flash the Big Bruva T-Shirt, im pissed

Agreed...lol

olegunnar
06-02-2008, 12:29 PM
Smithy played pretty well and his confidence is up there, i spoke to him about the break away and he didn't wanna talk about it lol he did fail to find a man on two or three (3 on 2's) if that was RR i would be reading about it lol i love this board lol




Smithy makes less than $50,000 (probably around 30-35K) a year and came from Hawkes Bay United in the New Zealand league.
Ricketts makes probably 4-5 times as much and came from Barnsley and was a part of the Arsenal Youth system and played for Tottenham in the EPL.
It's distasteful to talk about salaries etc. but in a league with a salary cap it's an important factor.

With all that in mind it's not hard to see why they may be held to different standards and expectations on this board.

giambac
06-02-2008, 01:03 PM
He's been getting it a bit, especially on this forum, but I haven't read that many comments yet about his play yesterday. Both of our FK specialists, Guevara and Robert, were out yet we still managed to score a goal off a well placed ball by Ricketts... He seemed to play much better in my opinion. We needed him to step up with our midfield being depleted and he seemed to do that. Thoughts?

I've been probaly the # 1 crtitic of RR on this forum. I was giving it to him during his first 5- 6 games becasue I wasn't seeing much from him. However, On Saturday vs. LA he definetly steped it up a notch and showed the skill and talent alot of you have been saying he had.

Maybe it was the fact that both Robert and Guevera were both out of the lineup and it was RR who had t o take control. I'm not sure but he seemed to have alot of confidence taking on players. He also did a good job with the free kicks.

I think he was one of our best palyers next to Wynn and Smith.

I just hope he keeps it up.

BeachRed
06-02-2008, 01:55 PM
Smithy makes less than $50,000 (probably around 30-35K) a year and came from Hawkes Bay United in the New Zealand league.
Ricketts makes probably 4-5 times as much and came from Barnsley and was a part of the Arsenal Youth system and played for Tottenham in the EPL.
It's distasteful to talk about salaries etc. but in a league with a salary cap it's an important factor.

With all that in mind it's not hard to see why they may be held to different standards and expectations on this board.

This is a great explanation of why the coach and GM should always be seperate jobs and one of the reasons Carver is doing so well is because he never has to take any of this into consideration.

Now, I don't know nearly as much about soccer as most other people on this board, but even I can see the potential Ricketts brings - it's going to take him a while to get to know the team and the league, but he's going to be really good.

RPB_RED_NATION_RPB
06-02-2008, 02:05 PM
Rohan Ricketts
Fuckin Wicked

I could see the grin on his face when he came over for the Corner kick...and we were chanting this!

GoonerFootball4
06-02-2008, 06:19 PM
I thought Saturday was his best game by far, his delivery on James' goal was great, his crosses were for the most part accurate and with enough pace and he even helped out defensively on several plays. I think he likes being the best player on the field because he gets the ball more and he seems more confident. When Guevara and Robert return, I think we will see a drop in the level of his play...I hope he can prove me wrong.

Limani_Ole
06-03-2008, 08:50 AM
might need a sport psychiatrist or something..
it worked for eddie johnson

James17930
06-03-2008, 11:50 AM
Just want to offer my props to RR for his play on Saturday, though I've been a fan of him since his first game. He does so many little things that don't get a lot of attention or credit, like keeping possession, holding guys off, making good runs off the ball.

Big Bruva is right to point out the number of times he's been fouled which have led to goals.

But then, as someone else pointed out, he patiently and responsibly does the grunt work when needed when Robert and Guevera are playing. This tells me he's a good team player and doesn't any sort of ego.

Him and Wynne work excellently together with their give-and-goes on the right side.

So basically I'm happy with his contributions to the team so far. I'd love to see him pot a goal because that's really all he hasn't done yet.

T0R0NT0 FC
06-03-2008, 12:26 PM
Ricketts is the best! :yesnod:

Shaughno
06-03-2008, 12:28 PM
^^ I disagree. :lol: But I love what he brings to the table for TFC. He's talented, he's got a great vision of the game, he plays a smart game, he always hustles, he plays his role well and doesn't seem to complain and he always seems to have a smile on his face. Just the kind of player you want on your squad.

noochie
06-03-2008, 12:52 PM
I like him because we have the same T-Shirt. The man is quite fashionable. Oh and he can bring it.

Fort York Redcoat
06-03-2008, 01:35 PM
Ricketts is working for this team. My only complaint is the oft-scene weak left footed strike into the keeper from dead centre running cross the top of the box. Good ball control, though.