PDA

View Full Version : Today's News,Thursday,Feb.09



denime
02-09-2012, 06:38 AM
Mornin`




TFC TV (http://torontofc.neulion.com/tfc/console.jsp)




Winter & Mariner On Radio Thursday Night (http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/02/winter-mariner-radio-thursday-night)


Dunfield Hopes Injury Problems Solved (http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/02/dunfield-hopes-injury-problems-solved)


Galaxy Stacked But Reds Quietly Build (http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/02/galaxy-stacked-reds-quietly-build)


Stephen Hart says Canada should be ready for next stage of World Cup qualifying (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/stephen-hart-says-canada-should-be-ready-for-next-stage-of-world-cup-qualifying/article2331638/)


Canada's W.C. warmup schedule not ideal (http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/08/canadas-wc-warm-up-sked-not-ideal)


TFC rookie idolizes Barcelona's Pique (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/02/08/aaron_maund/)





TFC related blogs ! (http://www.redpatchboys.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=29582)




SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshine-girl)


_

flatpicker
02-09-2012, 07:52 AM
sleepy

Technorgasm
02-09-2012, 08:23 AM
I didnt realize MAriner was such an important player in his day, I have been looking into his career. .
impressive.

and his official title is 'player devlopment'?
I hate to say it but. . it looks like this team is finally benefitting from some stability.
whats the over-under on Winter getting sacked this season?

(for no other reason then historical precedent)

Oldtimer
02-09-2012, 08:33 AM
whats the over-under on Winter getting sacked this season?

(for no other reason then historical precedent)

Historical precedent means little when the person causing all the turnover and confusion has been gone for a year and a half, now.:party: I would seriously doubt that the person the next level up (Anselmi) will step in unless TFC had a really dire season (which I don't expect will happen).

KGH
02-09-2012, 08:43 AM
I didnt realize MAriner was such an important player in his day, I have been looking into his career. .
impressive.

and his official title is 'player devlopment'?
I hate to say it but. . it looks like this team is finally benefitting from some stability.
whats the over-under on Winter getting sacked this season?

(for no other reason then historical precedent)

There is 0% that Winter gets sacked. If he did that would mean back to the entire drawing board and I don't think thats something the organization wants considering the investment to date.

Gazza
02-09-2012, 08:46 AM
If Winter laced up the boots with Frings in the middle, would he count against the cap? I mean, how much did it cost us to sub that trainer in a few years ago?

I just wish he and Gascoigne had a chance to play together at Lazio.

Ossington Mental Youth
02-09-2012, 08:46 AM
yeah if anything id think Winter would go and Mariner would replace him.
Either way Im hoping our season goes well enough we can continue to keep both for stability (and for the winzzzz)

ensco
02-09-2012, 08:54 AM
Whoa. Take a look at the picture of the Peruvian son of one of the people killed in the van crash

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/in-far-off-lima-families-mourn-ontario-crash-victims/article2331847/

TOBOR !
02-09-2012, 09:02 AM
I'll tune in for that tonight ! It'll be good to hear the braintrust talk about preparations for the upcoming year.

Say, am I the only one who caught Brunt and McCown speaking with James Klotz, Toronto lawyer appointed to FIFA's Independent Governance Committee ?

FAN590 haven't posted it on their site, presumably due to the outright failure of the hosts to ask any penetrating questions. In fact, it took them about half the interview to realise that he hadn't come on to speak about match-fixing, and actually had no knowledge of the subject.

Canary10
02-09-2012, 09:49 AM
Dave Perkins in the Star is at it again. In a story about possibly putting grass in the Rogers Centre, he sees fit to keep up his long standing vendetta against soccer and BMO Field by slipping in a comment about BMO being "hoisted from the taxpayers." Everyone should send him a nasty email.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/cfl/argos/article/1128253--perkins-argos-turfed-if-toronto-blue-jays-put-grass-in-rogers-centre

Here's his email address if you want to let him know what you think.
dperkin@thestar.ca

Auzzy
02-09-2012, 09:58 AM
^ Yeah I saw that. Funny talking about BMO being a supposedly bad deal for the tax payers, in an article about the Skydome/Rogers Centre.

At least the City earns money directly off of every game hosted at BMO Field, and it was of course much cheaper to begin with.

C.Ronaldo
02-09-2012, 10:06 AM
^^agreed

City needs to Sell/Lease BMO to MLSE.

BMO field is no place for gov't

get in, get out.

Just like a private developer would do

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 10:08 AM
Whoa. Take a look at the picture of the Peruvian son of one of the people killed in the van crash

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/in-far-off-lima-families-mourn-ontario-crash-victims/article2331847/

His dad probably sent it back for him as a gift. Such a sad story.

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 10:09 AM
There is lots of noise about where the Argos will be playing in the future with the Jays looking at grass for the Skydome.

God I hope this doesn't revive the Argos at BMO Field issue.

boban
02-09-2012, 10:10 AM
^^agreed

City needs to Sell/Lease BMO to MLSE.

BMO field is no place for gov't

get in, get out.

Just like a private developer would do
ooookaaaayyyyyyyyy
The whole grounds are government lands. Ain't never going to happen.

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 10:10 AM
There is 0% that Winter gets sacked. If he did that would mean back to the entire drawing board and I don't think thats something the organization wants considering the investment to date.

0%? Not really. If he underperforms again, there is a very good chance he'd get sacked especially with the 3rd highest payroll in the league. So unless your figures include a 100% guarantee that TFC makes the playoffs, I'd have to question your 0% conclusion.

Canary10
02-09-2012, 10:30 AM
There is lots of noise about where the Argos will be playing in the future with the Jays looking at grass for the Skydome.

God I hope this doesn't revive the Argos at BMO Field issue.

The article says concrete was poured at BMO where the endzones would be, preventing the Argos from being able to play there.

MLSE finally did something right if the north stands were put in to stop the Argos!

KGH
02-09-2012, 10:32 AM
To support my conclusion of 0% chance:

1) The organization is trying to shift to an Ajax model. We've brought Winter here to help develop that. Sacking him in year 2 of that journey would make no sense. Regardless how the 1st team does. I could see Mariner sacked before Winter.

2) The overall change that has developed across the organization has been significant. If you listen to the players they talk about "Football first" and "professional atmosphere" that has been brought by Winter.

3) MLSE has a history of keeping Managers regardless of their lack of playoff performance (See Ron Wilson). I think the first 4 seasons of turnstyle change was a combination of two things:

a) Mo Johnston not knowing how to run a football organization and caving to vocal fans regarding how to run an organization.

b) MLSE not knowing / caring about running a football organization.

To insist that its playoffs or out for Winter is a bit premature. If would need to be a monumental collapse by the team and a rebellion in the locker room to make the top brass even think of rocking the boat again. I'm pretty sure when Winter was brought in it was under a 3 year plan.

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 10:50 AM
And all of that goes out the window if we don't get into the playoffs. I am certain of that. There is a little rumbling at MLSE about TFC shifting from a profitable venture to a non-profitable one (especially with the DPs). You mention the other examples such as lack of playoff appearance but the significant difference there is that the Leafs and Raptors are profitable teams with or without playoffs, TFC are not. Expectations are raised when you decide to almost triple salary expenses for the team. I say triple because MLS only covers half the salary cap space. Meaning somewhere north of 1 and short of 2million. With a total roster expense of almost 5mill, that means that MLSE is on the hook for somewhere between 3 and 4mill. That coupled with declining season ticket waiting lists (which the Leafs don't have to worry about) and shifting from a modest annual profit to projecting serious losses for the next couple of years puts TFC in a completely different category than the Leafs in terms of expectations by their owners.

But it's good to know we are now finding ourselves in another multi-year plan. Because that worked so well the last time.

Still, even if we assume you are right about the points above, that does not reach a 0% probability. 0% means a complete certainty and nothing in your rationale gives assurances of that, only possible outcomes, meaning less than certain.

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 10:54 AM
The article says concrete was poured at BMO where the endzones would be, preventing the Argos from being able to play there.

MLSE finally did something right if the north stands were put in to stop the Argos!


In a city where multi-billion dollar transit plans are ripped up for new ones then reinstated for old ones at the drop of a hat, it wouldn't be that difficult to believe the city would be willing to go through a multi-million dollar expense of ripping up foundations on one end of the field to make room. Especially if it saves them a lot more if they wanted to build something elsewhere.

The city makes a profit off of TFC games, it wouldn't be that difficult to see Rob Ford want to see if they could double that profit with games at the Ex for the CFL.

scooter
02-09-2012, 11:03 AM
mornin d

Oldtimer
02-09-2012, 11:15 AM
Like I said, it would take a dire season to sack Winter but that would do it. I don't expect it to happen (I expect TFC to squeak into the playoffs) but if TFC failed yet again, they could always bring in some other Dutch coach and keep continuity in style. It's not like Winter is their only choice.

Oldtimer
02-09-2012, 11:18 AM
In a city where multi-billion dollar transit plans are ripped up for new ones then reinstated for old ones at the drop of a hat, it wouldn't be that difficult to believe the city would be willing to go through a multi-million dollar expense of ripping up foundations on one end of the field to make room. Especially if it saves them a lot more if they wanted to build something elsewhere.

The city makes a profit off of TFC games, it wouldn't be that difficult to see Rob Ford want to see if they could double that profit with games at the Ex for the CFL.

Ford would want it, but those pesky leftist councilors would probably stand in the way.

BMO Field has always been a negotiating tactic for the Argos, I don't expect them to ever go there. It's much more likely for them to piggyback onto some other development.

Canary10
02-09-2012, 11:18 AM
I think we should build a subway to BMO.

Will anyone support me for mayor on that platform?

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 11:20 AM
The pesky leftist councillors wouldn't have much a strong opinion about BMO Field I would imagine. TTC? Sure. BMO Field? Not so much.

If Ford would want to push something through, I wouldn't imagine too much opposition.

Canary10
02-09-2012, 11:22 AM
^ They would if David Miller said they should. And he would.

ag futbol
02-09-2012, 11:27 AM
Like I said, it would take a dire season to sack Winter but that would do it. I don't expect it to happen (I expect TFC to squeak into the playoffs) but if TFC failed yet again, they could always bring in some other Dutch coach and keep continuity in style. It's not like Winter is their only choice.
Agreed, the plan stays the same but who builds on that plan could change. We should all remember that JK set the style, AW is really the guy who is expected to come through with it.

That being said, can't see them firing him unless we do really, really, poorly.

PopePouri
02-09-2012, 11:31 AM
TFC and CSA won't give up grass. From a TFC fan point of view, I find it more likely that we'd get a new stadium than for them to reinstalling turf.

Dunkers
02-09-2012, 11:38 AM
Whoa. Take a look at the picture of the Peruvian son of one of the people killed in the van crash

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/in-far-off-lima-families-mourn-ontario-crash-victims/article2331847/

sad story, but this might have something to do with it...

Enrique Arturo Arenaza Leon, 47, was a former professional soccer player with Alianza Lima

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/prayer-service-planned-friday-for-victims-of-crash-that-killed-11--138926009.html

brad
02-09-2012, 11:55 AM
And all of that goes out the window if we don't get into the playoffs. I am certain of that. There is a little rumbling at MLSE about TFC shifting from a profitable venture to a non-profitable one (especially with the DPs). You mention the other examples such as lack of playoff appearance but the significant difference there is that the Leafs and Raptors are profitable teams with or without playoffs, TFC are not. Expectations are raised when you decide to almost triple salary expenses for the team. I say triple because MLS only covers half the salary cap space. Meaning somewhere north of 1 and short of 2million. With a total roster expense of almost 5mill, that means that MLSE is on the hook for somewhere between 3 and 4mill. That coupled with declining season ticket waiting lists (which the Leafs don't have to worry about) and shifting from a modest annual profit to projecting serious losses for the next couple of years puts TFC in a completely different category than the Leafs in terms of expectations by their owners.

None of what you have written surprises me.

Do you think this all centers around season ticket sales (with playoffs being the marker that MLSE thinks will be driving additional ST sales) or additional revenue from the playoff games (or both)?

I could conceivable see a couple of situations

We start playing better and more entertaining football which gets the interest back up and drives better ticket sales, but we narrowly miss out of the playoffs.

The other is we make the playoffs but for whatever reason the apathy has set in and the the season ticket sales don't go up.

I wonder how either situation will play out.

Also, a general question (not in response directly to you Roogsy, but free to answer :)) - does anyone really think if seasons sales aren't up to par that MLSE won't fire Winter to appease the general masses and try and drive some ticket sales? That is not an uncommon tactic in sports.

ensco
02-09-2012, 12:08 PM
0% chance Winter gets fired?

We're the worst team in MLS history. If we're 3-9 or something, and it looks like it's happening all over again, this place will be a hate fest, it'll make any previous criticism of Winter look like kindergarten stuff.

Beach_Red
02-09-2012, 12:14 PM
0% chance Winter gets fired?

We're the worst team in MLS history. If we're 3-9 or something, and it looks like it's happening all over again, this place will be a hate fest, it'll make any previous criticism of Winter look like kindergarten stuff.

Well, let's hope that doesn't happen (3-9) but if it does will it call into question the whole approach to style? Would there be much point in continuing with the style that isn't getting results?

Winter was the first coach given a multi-year contract with this team and he and Mariner have had complete control (with no agents actually making player selections) so it seems unlikely they'll be let go as long as the team is in plpayoff contention. 3-9 seems very unlikely (I hope!) and chances are this will be like most other seasons and making the playoffs will come down to the last couple of games. If it does come down to the last couple games chances are Winter and Mariner will be back even if they lose that final game.

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 12:21 PM
To be honest, I don't think that will happen. TFC has a history of starting off well in the year and then tailing off. I would expect that trend to continue.

But nothing is guaranteed. If Winter really gets off to a bad start, we really could see him gone mid-year.

Oldtimer
02-09-2012, 12:24 PM
Agreed, nothing is guaranteed.

It's nerve-wracking waiting for the season to start! :)

ensco
02-09-2012, 12:33 PM
I agree with the majority who see us as a middle of the pack team. My big fear is injuries -Koevs and Frings are old.

I don't think we'll go 3-9 either.But then again, most of us liked Preki at the start too!

pekduck
02-09-2012, 12:33 PM
Interesting read.

http://www.sounderatheart.com/2012/2/8/2784601/voodoo-economics-a-look-at-how-the-la-galaxy-manage-the-salary-cap



I woke up this morning to Josh Mayers of the Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2017454468_the_rich_get_richer.html)reporting that the LA Galaxy (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/la-galaxy) had managed to secure Leonardo on a free transfer and they got Juninho back on a free loan. Suffice it to say that my initial response was not fit to print.

The top of the LA Galaxy roster boggles the mind. They have 3 DPs; Landon Donovan (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan), David Beckham (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/110214/david-beckham) and Robbie Keane (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/112134/robbie-keane). Edson Buddle (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/111203/edson-buddle) returns to the squad after a year in Europe. Leonardo and Juninho are now both back. They also still have the player they brought in when they thought that Juninho would not return, Marcelo Sarvas (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/150831/marcelo-sarvas).

Which brings us to the issue of the salary cap. How did LA manage to secure this level of talent and stay within the MLS salary cap? The answer is, mostly, Allocation Money.

It's easy to overlook all of the little things that LA has done this off-season that brought in Allocation Money. They earned Allocation Money by advancing to the Group Stage of the 2012 CONCACAF Champions league and the Knock Stage of the 2011 CONCACAF Champions league. (The Sounders also earned the same Allocation Money.) LA earned Allocation Money when they traded Donovan Ricketts (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/111219/donovan-ricketts) to Montreal. Expansion clubs are given large amounts of Allocation Money and I imagine that Montreal dropped a chunk of theirs to obtain the services of a veteran Goal Keeper with Rickett's pedigree. (Editor's note: We've also been informed that every MLS team gets allocation to account for talent dilution whenever a new team joins the league.) The Galaxy also likely earned Allocation Money when they loaned Donovan, Omar Gonzales and Keane to teams in Europe (Editor's Note: It's come to our attention that allocation money from loans is not quite this straight-forward, more later). Yes, the loan of Gonzales came with a high price tag when he was injured, but his loan fee likely still applies.

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg

To protect the interests of the league in the global market place, specific Allocation Money amounts are not disclosed. But we do know a few things. For every transfer or loan fee equaling 1 million dollars or more, a team can apply ~$650K of their share of the fee toward their roster as Allocation Money. In the world of an MLS team, a 1 million dollar transfer fee makes a player a DP. In the world of the English Premiere League, a 1 million dollar loan fee almost equates to petty cash. It doesn't take much of a leap to imagine that LA may be sitting on a couple million in Allocation Money for their 2012 roster. When the salary cap for an MLS team is $2.8 million, adding another $2 million to a team's individual cap through the process of Allocation Money changes the landscape. If these numbers are correct, the Galaxy could have more than $3.8 million that they can distribute among the remaining 15-17 players on their Senior roster where the average MLS team only gets $2.8 million before Allocation Money. This raises their average Senior roster salary to ~$250K per player. Compare this to the average MLS Senior roster salary of $120K and LA's roster begins to make more sense.
(Editor's note: As it turns out, we probably over-estimated the amount of allocation money the Galaxy have. While allocation can be earned from loans, in situation's like Donovan's we overstated it. As it turns out, a MLS team only starts earning allocation on transfers or loans when the amount is above and beyond what that team has already paid the player out of their own pocket. So, in Donovan's case, that would mean the Galaxy would have to be getting millions of dollars in loan fees to start getting allocation. It's unlikely they got much. Still, the overall point stands, even if we may have overstated it a bit.)

But how the Galaxy are affording their roster is only half of the picture. The other half of the picture relates to how the Galaxy manage their team relative to the salary cap rules. Edson Buddle returns to the team because when he went to Europe, he went on a free transfer. LA retained his rights. Juninho and Leonardo return because Sao Paulo doesn't have room on their squad. LA was able to negotiate a free transfer and a free loan helping Sao Paolo address a couple of problems with the Sao Paolo roster. One man's junk is another's treasure. The Galaxy have shrewdly analyzed the MLS role in the global market and leveraged it to find bargain quality. (Seattle can't complain too vehemently. Mauro Rosales (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/129832/mauro-rosales) was the MLS deal of the year in 2011.)

In the case of the 3 LA DPs, they cashed in on the glamour and allure of living in LA. Beckham could have made more money playing for PSG, but his family loves living in Southern California. Robbie Keane came to LA in no small part because Beckham and his family sold Keane's significant other on living in LA. Donovan wants to live in LA and so he stayed in America rather than jumping to England on a permanent basis. Los Angeles and New York have international cache that no other American city possess. This is not the Galaxy's fault and they would be stupid not to capitalize. Seattle is capitalizing on its own brand of geographic cache. As Mauro Rosales said, "In the Summer, it is Paradise." Michael Gspurning (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/149309/michael-gspurning) and Adam Johansson (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/150862/adam-johansson) raved about the Sounders' facilities, landscape and fans. Christian Sivebaek (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/150863/christian-sivebaek) talked in his recent interview about how much his girlfriend and he love being in America.Yet LA's DP signings also allow The Galaxy to acquire Allocation Money through offseason loans. This is a mechanism that the Sounders have not used and the one example of how an aging Euro-Star looking for a payday can actually make sense in the modern MLS game beyond helping with the gate.

Los Angeles also manages their roster by looking for bargains in their role players. In the recent Re-Entry draft, LA drafted four players, all veterans. These players play for close to the league minimum while providing leadership. This further shifts the structure of the LA payroll. If the average LA Senior player is making $250K, but 4 of them are making $50K, then that's another $800K that can be redistributed. Now 8 non-DP players can be making DP player salaries of $350K. Theoretically the Galaxy could field a Starting 11 where every player makes $350K or more. This is the true definition of how a team can manage its budget within MLS rules and still adhere to the axiom that good players cost more. When the entire starting roster is making more, then the large DP salaries don't have the same negative impact in the locker room that they have in a situation where everyone is only making $120K.

The Galaxy also leverage youth development in their long range roster management. The LA area is a hotbed of youth soccer. This gives LA an advantage in the Home Grown player market. Players like Jose Villareal allow the Galaxy to reload. The team is also shrewd in how it drafts and trades. Kyle Nakazawa (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/111301/kyle-nakazawa) was a nice pick up.
The Sounders are positioning themselves as a force in MLS roster management. Ultimately, Seattle is not LA and the Sounders will use the MLS roster rules in different ways. But some of the MLS roster construction advantages only come with time. LA offers a glimpse of how that time compounds interest.

VoxPopuliCosmicum
02-09-2012, 12:46 PM
From the Maund story:
Unlike midfielder Luis Silva, who TFC picked fourth overall and have said they expect to be a starter this season, Maund is more of a long-term project for the Reds.

When did "TFC" say they expect Silva "to be a starter this season"?

Canary10
02-09-2012, 12:46 PM
To say there's 0% of anything in sports happening is ludicrous.

I can't see these worst case scenarios happening, but I will say that I think the first five games will tell a lot. We have 3 home and 2 away games. If we're going to be a playoff team and somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50 points I think 10 points out of the first 5 games is the kind of start we need.

Pookie
02-09-2012, 12:46 PM
And all of that goes out the window if we don't get into the playoffs.

I don't think it is that cut and dry. Financial impact is really only realized if they host the games. Depending on the seed, there might not be a lucrative revenue stream for simply making the playoffs.

In fact, success in March might overshadow any MLS playoff revenue for the coming season.

Further, success in the Nutralite Championship results in additional gates as does CCL progress in 2012.

MLS Playoffs won't be the be all and end all if the decision to retain Winter is based primarily on financial contributions.

Oldtimer
02-09-2012, 12:47 PM
aha, so every team got allocation money, or only those that lost a player?

Anyway, it helps explain that missing 400k or so that the Galaxy are over budget.

It means though that next year LA will have to either get more allocation money by selling/loaning players or reduce their squad. Doesn't help TFC or Seattle this year, though.

ensco
02-09-2012, 01:36 PM
That Sounders story is really interesting, especially the part about how Loaning players out earns allocation money - I did not know that.

Does this mean that we would have been way ahead had we signed Dero as a DP and loaned him to Celtic?

scooter
02-09-2012, 02:17 PM
great news that winter will be on the radio tonight i will be sure to listen
anybody know why its not carried on setanta or sports whatever it is anymore

mastermixer
02-09-2012, 02:36 PM
Interesting read.

http://www.sounderatheart.com/2012/2/8/2784601/voodoo-economics-a-look-at-how-the-la-galaxy-manage-the-salary-cap

It's gonna be so sweet when we beat the Barcelona/Real Madrid of MLS.

Roogsy
02-09-2012, 02:39 PM
That Sounders story is really interesting, especially the part about how Loaning players out earns allocation money - I did not know that.

Does this mean that we would have been way ahead had we signed Dero as a DP and loaned him to Celtic?


I said that all last year. I didn't care that DeRo was gone, I was extremely upset at how this management team squandered good value and got nothing but could have had much more in the way of players, allocation and cap room. Not a good way to start. Then they just compounded my impression of them by giving us the worst 4 months we've ever had as TFC fans.

moralis
02-09-2012, 02:46 PM
According to the players agent:TFC will have a new trialist in Orlando for camp in left back/midfielder in Kevin Huezo(U20 US National team player)

http://twitter.com/#!/MAEAgency/status/167692802896048128

denime
02-09-2012, 02:58 PM
According to the players agent:TFC will have a new trialist in Orlando for camp in left back/midfielder in Kevin Huezo(U20 US National team player)

http://twitter.com/#!/MAEAgency/status/167692802896048128 (http://twitter.com/#%21/MAEAgency/status/167692802896048128)

It comes handy to have former U20 US coach as your Academy TD,I'm sure TFC will use T.Rongen's knowledge of US youth soccer NT players to bring them for tryouts as needed.

Canary10
02-09-2012, 03:15 PM
I see he's a left back. Interesting. One place where we probably still need cover, and likely confirms Aceval will be our left centre back.