Today's News, Friday, Aug. 31

[Nerepis]

Dunfield & Morgan Called To Canada (http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/08/dunfield-morgan-called-canada)

Work Cut Out For Toronto In CCL (http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/08/work-cut-out-toronto-ccl)

Could TFC show captain Frings the door? (http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/30/could-tfc-show-captain-frings-the-door)



Terry Dunfield stands on guard for Canada (http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/article/1249475--terry-dunfield-stands-on-guard-for-canada)


Hart announces World Cup qualifying roster (http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/30/hart-announces-world-cup-qualifying-roster)


De Rosario heads Canada's qualifying roster (http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/08/30/csa_canada_panama_world_cup_qualifiers/)


World Cup qualifying: Toronto FC regulars Terry Dunfield, Ashtone Morgan to play for Canada against Panama (http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/1249240--world-cup-qualifying-toronto-fc-regulars-terry-dunfield-ashtone-morgan-to-play-for-canada-against-panama)


DeRosario, de Guzman to lead Canada against Panama (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2012/08/30/sp-soccer-world-cup-qualifiers-canada-panama.html)




TFC/MLS blogs thread (http://redpatchboys.ca/forums/showthread.php?29582-TFC-MLS-blogs-thread/page28)




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

[scooter]

mornin n

[Oldtimer]

Could TFC show captain Frings the door? (http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/30/could-tfc-show-captain-frings-the-door)



I read this as the FO preparing us for getting rid of Frings, being put up as a trial balloon via Larson. That would make a lot of sense, as Frings doesn't do hoofball very well, and given that ticket sales will be way down next year, TFC is likely moving towards a budget model with no DPs. Expect Koevermans to be gone as well, and Hassli too.

Mariner will be happy, though. He will have a whole team full of non-technical players who just love to boot the ball down the field. Dunfield will then be the "star" player. :facepalm:

[[NBF]]

I take it Junior Hoilett is probably going to go with Jamaica at this point. Thats sad. Anyone know if Jamie Peters has found a club or if Hume is hurt?

[Auzzy]

I read this as the FO preparing us for getting rid of Frings, being put up as a trial balloon via Larson. That would make a lot of sense, as Frings doesn't do hoofball very well, and given that ticket sales will be way down next year, TFC is likely moving towards a budget model with no DPs. Expect Koevermans to be gone as well, and Hassli too.

Mariner will be happy, though. He will have a whole team full of non-technical players who just love to boot the ball down the field. Dunfield will then be the "star" player. :facepalm:

I think the relevant quote from Paul Mariner is, the players dictate the formation & style of play -- or something like that. (Except for those players that don't fit what I want to do. Including the best player of last year. But don't ask me what I want to do, because I don't like talking about that). :facepalm: :facepalm:

[Fort York Redcoat]

I have Canada tix for next Fridays game vs Panama in a World Cup Qualifier.

This game means something. Here's the lineup:



1- GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
2- M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
3- FB- Ante Jazić | USA / Chivas USA
4- CB- Kevin McKenna | GER / FC Köln
5- CB- André Hainault | USA / Houston Dynamo
6- M – Julian de Guzman | USA / FC Dallas
7- M – Terry Dunfield | CAN / Toronto FC
8- M- Will Johnson | USA / Real Salt Lake
9- F- Tosaint Ricketts | ROM / Politehnica Timişoara
10- F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Norwich City FC
11- FB- Marcel de Jong | GER / FC Augsburg
12- CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / D.C. United
13- M- Atiba Hutchinson | NED / PSV Eindhoven
14- M/F- Dwayne De Rosario | USA / D.C. United
15- CB- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
16- M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / CD Santa Clara
17- F- Olivier Occean | GER / Eintracht Frankfurt
18- GK- Milan Borjan | TUR / Sivasspor
19- FB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
20- M – Patrice Bernier | CAN / Impact Montréal
22- GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK Fotbol

[Fort York Redcoat]

;1525006']I take it Junior Hoilett is probably going to go with Jamaica at this point. Thats sad. Anyone know if Jamie Peters has found a club or if Hume is hurt?

Hoilett isn't going anywhere yet. I'll look for that other info...BRB



Meanwhile...have a listen to this classic...

/SSOxle8AsHU

Jody got a cat but she won't let it out...



EDIT:

Latest on Hume- looks like his club spot was in question so perhaps he and Hart agreed not to add him to the lineup. I'll miss him, too. Hope he can be added for Panama away or the next 2.

http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/deadline-day-centre-done-deal-rovers-sign-iain-hume-1-4883369
(http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/deadline-day-centre-done-deal-rovers-sign-iain-hume-1-4883369)
No deadline news on Peters. No club play = No play on Hart's team.

[Pookie]

If Frings is on the way out, he has earned the right to go out with respect.

Mariner calling him out for "diving in" and Laron for a "...lack of pace and defensive poise (that) was painfully obvious" is not entirely fair. Particularly, when Mariner, who was playing for a tie, used only 1 of 3 available subs. If a player is gassed or lacks the pace to defend against a team that has subbed in speed, and the coach fails to react, who is to blame there?

[Suds]

It's clear Kurt Larson has basically become TFC & Mariner's mouthpiece.

[Greatest Ripoff]

I read this as the FO preparing us for getting rid of Frings, being put up as a trial balloon via Larson. That would make a lot of sense, as Frings doesn't do hoofball very well, and given that ticket sales will be way down next year, TFC is likely moving towards a budget model with no DPs. Expect Koevermans to be gone as well, and Hassli too.

Mariner will be happy, though. He will have a whole team full of non-technical players who just love to boot the ball down the field. Dunfield will then be the "star" player. :facepalm:

Hmm the day after Mariner calls out Frings there is an article by Larson pondering whether he should be removed. It is so painfully obvious that Larson is Mariner's lackey in the media. Larson should really be ashamed of himself as he has ZERO journalistic integrity.

[Beach_Red]

If Frings is on the way out, he has earned the right to go out with respect.

Mariner calling him out for "diving in" and Laron for a "...lack of pace and defensive poise (that) was painfully obvious" is not entirely fair. Particularly, when Mariner, who was playing for a tie, used only 1 of 3 available subs. If a player is gassed or lacks the pace to defend against a team that has subbed in speed, and the coach fails to react, who is to blame there?

How long have you been following this team?.... ;)

[v00d00daddy]

Koevermans better be taking notes on this whole Frings fiasco.

I agree with previous posters. The writing is on the wall. Frings is the next scapegoat for TFC and Larson is helping Mariner out in that regard.

If Koevermans comes back next year and starts as poorly as he did this year he will be the next on the firing line. I wonder how Mariner would have dealt with Koev if he was coach from the start of the year?

I would love for Frings to leave and speak his mind openly (will only happen if he retires). I suspect we'll hear more of the truth if/when JDG leaves MLS too.

How terrible must it be to go from being an integral piece of the puzzle and a player tasked with being a leader and teacher on and off the field, to a guy getting shit on and watching the likes of Terry Dunfield getting praise?

It's really sad. How quick we forget Frings stepping in and doing what the coach asked of him when playing CB and helping us advance further in the CCL than anyone could have hoped.

But its easy to forget when you have Dunfield scoring against his former team (in a meaningless game) and against Houston (in another meaningless game). All the while we move closer and closer to brutal, unsuccessful soccer and an emptier stadium with each game.

I guess it's just "what have you done for me lately".

I'm guessing that Frings is regretting ever coming here. And that's fucking sad.

My prediction: Koevermans is next.

[Pookie]

How long have you been following this team?.... ;)

All of them... sadly :(

You did inspire a new article on WakingtheRed though:

http://www.wakingthered.com/2012/8/31/3282461/stop-blaming-frings

Also there is news of Nana Attakora signing a contract in Finland:

http://www.wakingthered.com/2012/8/31/3281534/nana-attakora-signs-for-fc-haka

[Beach_Red]

All of them... sadly :(

You did inspire a new article on WakingtheRed though:

http://www.wakingthered.com/2012/8/31/3282461/stop-blaming-frings

Also there is news of Nana Attakora signing a contract in Finland:

http://www.wakingthered.com/2012/8/31/3281534/nana-attakora-signs-for-fc-haka

From Waking the Red: "I do want to tackle what could be the start of an alarming trend; blaming Torsten Frings (http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/players/132820/torsten-frings) for Toronto’s woes."

As much as I agree that Toronto is a trend city, this is one place where we have a lot of tradition. This is from the Wikipedia page about Dave Keon: "Early into the 1974–75 season (http://redpatchboys.ca/wiki/1974%E2%80%9375_NHL_season), Ballard publicly blasted Keon, saying that the team was not getting good leadership from its captain and vowing never again to agree to a no-trade clause in a contract, as he had with Keon."

Of course, we fans have always blamed individual players for our teams' problems, so in this way ownership is just giving us what we want. Sadly.

[VoxPopuliCosmicum]

^Agree with all of you, Larson is a piece of sh!t mouthpiece for Mariner (although one could have figured that out by looking at the "paper" he writes for). Craig Forrest, too, and the whole GolTV lot (although one can't exactly blame them, given who they work for). Molinaro seems to be a stand-up guy. Wheeler, too. The bloggers, ironically, tend generally to have better footie insight and higher ethical standards than the average "real journalist".

Remember when TFC's media issues involved our (i.e. the fans') defensiveness about how the media covered our exuberance?

[narduch]

Larson is fighting with Steve Simmons and Damien Cox for the role of biggest ass in a Toronto newspaper.

I find it a little embarrassing the way Kurt Larson (and Duane Rollins) are being so belligerent towards TFC fans who don't support Mariner. My theory is that Mariner was their TFC source during the Winter era and now they are both defending their friend to no end.

TFC fans aren't stupid though. We've seen this show before. Just this time the guy in charge is named Mariner.

[narduch]

Mariner will be happy, though. He will have a whole team full of non-technical players who just love to boot the ball down the field. Dunfield will then be the "star" player. :facepalm:

Wouldn't surprise me at all if TFC names Dunfield Player of the Year.

[Richard]

Wouldn't surprise me at all if TFC names Dunfield Player of the Year.

Serious question, who else has are the other options.

Im not trolling here.

Koevs has played to few games.

Frings not consistant enough.

Come to think of it now, Morgan through all the shit this year has been the stand out player. He gets my vote, Kocic would be my other.

[Ultra & Proud]

That would make a lot of sense, as Frings doesn't do hoofball very well
If someone was to be fully subjective and didn't take into account the name on the back of the uniform, his DP status, or have a clear agenda against the manager when judging a player, you'd be hard pressed to honestly say that Frings has done much very well for a very long time. And I like Frings too but it's fairly ridiculous to write it off as him being 'no good at hoofball'. Not being good at hoofball didn't make him have some of the worst passing stats on the team (including the first 10 matches), or consistently have dreadful free kicks, or be the slowest starter on our roster. Being on the ugly side of the 30's and having to adapt to North American summer heat and travel is what's undone Frings. Pretty clear the mind and desire are there but the body is having other ideas now and that happens to the best of them eventually.

[narduch]

Serious question, who else has are the other options.

Im not trolling here.

Koevs has played to few games.

Frings not consistant enough.

Come to think of it now, Morgan through all the shit this year has been the stand out player. He gets my vote, Kocic would be my other.

Kocic would have been a strong candidate. But seeing as he probably won't play again this year it is highly unlikely he could win it.

[Beach_Red]

If someone was to be fully subjective and didn't take into account the name on the back of the uniform, his DP status, or have a clear agenda against the manager when judging a player, you'd be hard pressed to honestly say that Frings has done much very well for a very long time. And I like Frings too but it's fairly ridiculous to write it off as him being 'no good at hoofball'. Not being good at hoofball didn't make him have some of the worst passing stats on the team (including the first 10 matches), or consistently have dreadful free kicks, or be the slowest starter on our roster. Being on the ugly side of the 30's and having to adapt to North American summer heat and travel is what's undone Frings. Pretty clear the mind and desire are there but the body is having other ideas now and that happens to the best of them eventually.

Yeah, you're right. Really, did Frings have many more good games than JDG? He wasn't very good at "hoofball" either...

[Ultra & Proud]

Yeah, you're right. Really, did Frings have many more good games than JDG? He wasn't very good at "hoofball" either...

According to a lot of people JDG wasn't very good under any of the four managers we had during his time here. Pretty sure he wasn't very good at the attractive style as well as he was benched for the first time in his TFC career under Winter.

[Ultra & Proud]

Also I'd rather us not have 3 DPs either. I am good with losing two anyways. I've never liked the way adding DPs eats away at the funds and handicaps the roster. When the Academy starts firing out starters then fine but for now, with the return we've gotten from most of our DPs thus far (Koef excluded obviously), we are just too poor and weak throughout the squad to even attempt to play impressive football. You have to play with what players are at your disposal and ours just aren't good enough of a squad to do anything other than what they are doing now. Ditch some DPs salary and sign a few $150-$200k proven MLS players and we can get stuff straightened out. We aren't LA or NY with a metric shit ton of magical allocation money to float our franchise with like they do.

[ag futbol]

Good luck on TFC getting rid of Frings in the off-season. As someone else pointed out, unless it's a team option for that third year, which I doubt, he won't be moving an inch. They'll probably go classic TFC management on him and try to throw him under the bus by whatever means necessary.

Anyway, I have not been much of a Frings fan for the majority of this year, but to put him down as the fall guy is unfair. What's even more unbelievable is that they contrast him to Terry Dunfield in the article as if he was some kind of shinning light. Terry. Fucking. Dunfield. Tell me we couldn't compile a list of all the starting defensive mids in the league and he wouldn't be in the bottom 10%.