Today's News,Friday,May,10

[denime]

Mornin'



TFC TV (http://www.torontofc.ca/video)





Toronto FC's message not matching its actions (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/opinion/2013/05/toronto-fcs-message-not-matching-its-actions.html)


Toronto FC's Ryan Nelsen explains Tal Ben Haim, Steven Caldwell, Jeremy Brockie loan deals (http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/644783826?-19896:6206)


Toronto FC signs Israel international defender Tal Ben Haim on loan (http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/644725998?-19896:6206)


Tal Ben Haim To Toronto (http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/644690677?-19896:6206)






TFC Related Blogs !!


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

SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/sunshine-girl)
(http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2013/04/reds-face-union-philadelphia)
(http://www.torontofc.ca/video)

[CoachGT]

Rycroft's article for CBC addresses a few of the inconsistencies that are coming from TFC these days. It is hard to see some of the recent moves involving older players as anything but panic reactions.

Then admitting that the striker is only on loan until August when he will return to the A-League also is telling.

I'm expecting better from the management team than we have seen to date. I'm still giving them a passing grade, a C- right now, and it is important to give them time, but there has to be more in the way of positive result.

[Technorgasm]

Rycroft's article for CBC addresses a few of the inconsistencies that are coming from TFC these days. It is hard to see some of the recent moves involving older players as anything but panic reactions.

Then admitting that the striker is only on loan until August when he will return to the A-League also is telling.

I'm expecting better from the management team than we have seen to date. I'm still giving them a passing grade, a C- right now, and it is important to give them time, but there has to be more in the way of positive result.

Hate to say it but, these moves, and moves by previous regimes STINKS like typical slash and burn MLSE investment tactics.
Wait until the hole in the damn is exploding, them fill it will a stop gap solution.

Can we as supporters let them know that its ok to sacrifice short term results for long term stability?
I mean, do we have the capacity to accept that, as supporters in the first place?
I doubt it.
Maybe its a Toronto thing.
But we were the worst team in the league last year, potentially in MLS history. . meaning bottom.
Are the expectations round here that its acceptable to have very marginal improvement as long as we are building a competitive team?
I'm of the mind that we are NOT putting those basic stones in place. . .

is it not possible with all the MLS restrictions?. . .We have to 'get lucky' one year?

[scooter]

mornin d

[Batman]

Long ago, Toronto FC (http://www.torontofc.ca/)fell into the bad gambler’s conundrum.

Losers from the start, they began pushing in chips, trying to win back their initial stake. When they ran out of money (owing to salary cap and designated player restrictions), they began hopping from table to table.

This club’s greatest enemy has always been a lack of stability and clear vision. When things go wrong — and things are always going wrong — they begin signing new players willy-nilly.

Just about every other league on the planet operates on the opposite schedule of MLS, running from late-summer to late-spring....

http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2013/05/10/future_bleak_for_failing_toronto_fc_kelly.html (http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2013/05/10/future_bleak_for_failing_toronto_fc_kelly.html)

[Batman]

I know there are a lot of Cathal Kelly haters here.. but it seems to me he nailed it with this article.



Long ago, Toronto FC (http://www.torontofc.ca/)fell into the bad gambler’s conundrum.

Losers from the start, they began pushing in chips, trying to win back their initial stake. When they ran out of money (owing to salary cap and designated player restrictions), they began hopping from table to table.

This club’s greatest enemy has always been a lack of stability and clear vision. When things go wrong — and things are always going wrong — they begin signing new players willy-nilly.

Just about every other league on the planet operates on the opposite schedule of MLS, running from late-summer to late-spring....

http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2013/05/10/future_bleak_for_failing_toronto_fc_kelly.html (http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2013/05/10/future_bleak_for_failing_toronto_fc_kelly.html)

[Fort York Redcoat]

Hate to say it but, these moves, and moves by previous regimes STINKS like typical slash and burn MLSE investment tactics.
Wait until the hole in the damn is exploding, them fill it will a stop gap solution.

Can we as supporters let them know that its ok to sacrifice short term results for long term stability?
I mean, do we have the capacity to accept that, as supporters in the first place?
I doubt it.
Maybe its a Toronto thing.
But we were the worst team in the league last year, potentially in MLS history. . meaning bottom.
Are the expectations round here that its acceptable to have very marginal improvement as long as we are building a competitive team?
I'm of the mind that we are NOT putting those basic stones in place. . .

is it not possible with all the MLS restrictions?. . .We have to 'get lucky' one year?


I've agreed with this perspective over the years but I'd like to raise the opposing view.

That present management does not have confidence in much of the young talent in developing to a professional level to succeed. That they will keep only those few seeds that look to get there and while they can afford it, surround them with short term veterans until they can eventually grab the occasional "laba" pickup that is talented AND young.

I'm not saying this is the present strategy and to trust the direction of player aquisition I'm just offering it as a possibility.

[Oldtimer]

I know there are a lot of Cathal Kelly haters here.. but it seems to me he nailed it with this article.

Meh,

Slagging teams, in no matter what sport is his usual schtick. Sometimes he's more on the target, sometimes less so. You can hardly miss when criticizing TFC's multi-year history of failure.

[Oldtimer]

(1) NBC Sports says that the quality of the players is TFC's problem:


I respect Toronto FC boss Ryan Nelsen for not being satisfied with less. It really is commendable that he can watch his team, game after game, give up terrible goals at terrible times and not say what all of us are thinking: the players just aren’t good enough.

So I’ll say it for him: the players aren’t good enough. The roster isn’t good enough.



http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/09/toronto-fc-roster-improving-but-is-it-enough/

(2) TBH signing made the BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22471370

(3) MLS LIVE IS FREE THIS WEEKEND!!!!

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/09/mls-live-free-trial-watch-7-mls-matches-weekend

[Phil]

I've agreed with this perspective over the years but I'd like to raise the opposing view.

That present management does not have confidence in much of the young talent in developing to a professional level to succeed. That they will keep only those few seeds that look to get there and while they can afford it, surround them with short term veterans until they can eventually grab the occasional "laba" pickup that is talented AND young.

I'm not saying this is the present strategy and to trust the direction of player aquisition I'm just offering it as a possibility.

I liked Winter and DeKlerks approach the best. Produce young Canadian talent, take the long road and develop the player. Everyone invested in that then bam they pulled the plug.

I don't hear enough talk around development or strategy regarding that. I get Winter had to go, he wasn't the man for the job, but does that mean you pull out of the whole club philosophy that they pushed? That is the bigger problem and lends to the revolving door and circus atmosphere. They have to adopt a plan and stick to it. I am waiting on Payne and the rest to identify and build. Long term is fine, just stay focused and get a little better before trying to become a lot better.

[mdc 77]

Said it before I don't get the hate for Kelly here, anyways he is spot on with that article. You know you want to hate that article but after reading it you also know its 100% the truth.

[Globetrotter]

I liked Winter and DeKlerks approach the best. Produce young Canadian talent, take the long road and develop the player. Everyone invested in that then bam they pulled the plug.

I don't hear enough talk around development or strategy regarding that. I get Winter had to go, he wasn't the man for the job, but does that mean you pull out of the whole club philosophy that they pushed? That is the bigger problem and lends to the revolving door and circus atmosphere. They have to adopt a plan and stick to it. I am waiting on Payne and the rest to identify and build. Long term is fine, just stay focused and get a little better before trying to become a lot better.

Morgan, Lindsey, Henry.

Lindsey is gone.
Henry gets CCL time and is deep bench.
Morgan receives complaints, and doesn't appear to be hard enough or developed enough to be a go to guy right now (in Nelsen's eyes).

We're a looooooong way away from pumping out MLS ready players from the academy. I think we are still doing the Winter approach though. We are running the academy, and will use the fruits it produces later, but now we're plugging along.

What I feel we should do though is not throw out players like Bekker (Cronin, Frei, and some of the other draft picks. Those guys are pure MLS standard quality players). He's likely an MLS calibre player (not great, but a solid piece), and with some experience, he'll be that standard MLS quality player that are academy is suppose to produce.

[Greatest Ripoff]

I liked Winter and DeKlerks approach the best. Produce young Canadian talent, take the long road and develop the player. Everyone invested in that then bam they pulled the plug.

I don't hear enough talk around development or strategy regarding that. I get Winter had to go, he wasn't the man for the job, but does that mean you pull out of the whole club philosophy that they pushed? That is the bigger problem and lends to the revolving door and circus atmosphere. They have to adopt a plan and stick to it. I am waiting on Payne and the rest to identify and build. Long term is fine, just stay focused and get a little better before trying to become a lot better.

I really hope that Nelson is looking long term with players like Henry, Morgan, Bekker and Osorio. So when they have bad performances it is more about finding ways to improve them as footballers and developing them into pros and less about finding replacements and bringing in cheap depth. Someone like Nelsen should be mentoring Henry and Morgan. They have shown they have the athleticism and raw ability but now it is up to TFC to take that and make them into professionals.

[OgtheDim]

Looked through what he wrote.

Heard it all before. He doesn't understand the restrictions TFC is under as far as a lack of connections and scouting. Probably because every team above Div 7 in any country had better then what we had under Mariner.

Until that is fixed, and that takes time, short term loanees are what we are going to be dealing with.

[ensco]

Kelly and Rycroft are wrong. As always, journalists think it's about them. But I like what Payne is doing a lot more than I like what Payne is saying.

My advise to Payne - cut the crap, just state the obvious (Nonis is excellent at this btw). TFC have many needs, they are trying to figure out who they can build around by bringing in a whole group of kids and vets on a short term basis, and letting them compete for contracts. There is nothing inherently wrong with bringing in TBH or whomever, don't forget, we haven't had a Dichio since Dichio, we need 3-4 older character guys that can still contribute. (Looks like Nelsen thinks Califf isn't one of them.)

I don't understand why Payne is saying so many different, contradictory things. He doesn't need to, it won't sell tickets, and he is getting himself into trouble repeatedly. It's stupid. But it doesn't matter. Actions louder than words and all that.

[zamperina]

Suprisingly good article from Cathal. Thought he pretty much nailed it.

[Technorgasm]

I've agreed with this perspective over the years but I'd like to raise the opposing view.

That present management does not have confidence in much of the young talent in developing to a professional level to succeed. That they will keep only those few seeds that look to get there and while they can afford it, surround them with short term veterans until they can eventually grab the occasional "laba" pickup that is talented AND young.

I'm not saying this is the present strategy and to trust the direction of player aquisition I'm just offering it as a possibility.

This post has calmed the beast within me.
I trust in Payne, and have hope for MLSE's new head honcho.
I mean. . . it cant get worse right?

So lets do fucking enjoy it, maybe not for whats on the feild, but for who is besie us in the stands.

(face it, we're going to the games anywayz, might as well make the most of it)

[Fort York Redcoat]

I don't understand why Payne is saying so many different, contradictory things. He doesn't need to, it won't sell tickets, and he is getting himself into trouble repeatedly.

I'm not so sure about that. Most here are clamouring for news in anything close to trying times.

Although I, too, feel frustrated by the throwing at media cliche's of direction and intent.

[MartinUtd]

I think I'm going to stop reading Raycroft.

[pekduck]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/05/10/opta-spotlight-ryan-nelsen-calls-toronto-fc-soft-whats-behind-their-late-gam

Opta Spotlight: Ryan Nelsen calls Toronto FC "soft," but is that what's behind their late-game collapses?
good read

[Yagbod]

Didn't want to start a thread on this, and it isn't news so apologies in advance:

Does anyone know of an app or something for converting photos into outlines like these players faces? I have an idea for the June 2nd game:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTEAgg8tuj8O8wCWNHQoVaQ1ypv-fQrYx2iPlw5_s6G63l43fTL

[v00d00daddy]

I liked Winter and DeKlerks approach the best. Produce young Canadian talent, take the long road and develop the player. Everyone invested in that then bam they pulled the plug.

I don't hear enough talk around development or strategy regarding that. I get Winter had to go, he wasn't the man for the job, but does that mean you pull out of the whole club philosophy that they pushed? That is the bigger problem and lends to the revolving door and circus atmosphere. They have to adopt a plan and stick to it. I am waiting on Payne and the rest to identify and build. Long term is fine, just stay focused and get a little better before trying to become a lot better.

yes x 1 trillion!!!!!!

[Greatest Ripoff]

Didn't want to start a thread on this, and it isn't news so apologies in advance:

Does anyone know of an app or something for converting photos into outlines like these players faces? I have an idea for the June 2nd game:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTEAgg8tuj8O8wCWNHQoVaQ1ypv-fQrYx2iPlw5_s6G63l43fTL

It can be done in Illustrator. If you send me a link to the image you want, I can try to do it for you.

[Initial B]

I don't understand why Payne is saying so many different, contradictory things. He doesn't need to, it won't sell tickets, and he is getting himself into trouble repeatedly. It's stupid. But it doesn't matter. Actions louder than words and all that.
Perhaps Payne said that about TBH specifically because he knew that player would be reading the articles that would be coming out about the transfer. I'm not saying that TBH is vain, but you're more likely to perform well if you think your new boss believes you are good and can make a difference. If Payne didn't use hyperbole, TBH might be a bit demoralized as he steps into the TFC meatgrinder.

[Yagbod]

It can be done in Illustrator. If you send me a link to the image you want, I can try to do it for you.

Awesome! Thank you for the offer. I haven't decided on a picture yet. I want to make a tribute tifo to Christine Sinclair.

I might try this picture, but if it is too much trouble don't bother yet. I want to talk to some people about the project before we sink any time into it.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQQJOzbXdROjZ_cCkQbx42n9FDj4pMdM TOqR6RRQEBS5pfh4loGIw

[Greatest Ripoff]

Awesome! Thank you for the offer. I haven't decided on a picture yet. I want to make a tribute tifo to Christine Sinclair.

I might try this picture, but if it is too much trouble don't bother yet. I want to talk to some people about the project before we sink any time into it.



like this?

http://i43.tinypic.com/2yl6zo9.jpg

[Fort York Redcoat]

like this?

http://i43.tinypic.com/2yl6zo9.jpg


Awesome. Yags? What say you?

[TFCknw]

^pretty sure someone is using this photo already for a banner.

[TFC07]

Morgan, Lindsey, Henry.

Lindsey is gone.
Henry gets CCL time and is deep bench.
Morgan receives complaints, and doesn't appear to be hard enough or developed enough to be a go to guy right now (in Nelsen's eyes).

We're a looooooong way away from pumping out MLS ready players from the academy. I think we are still doing the Winter approach though. We are running the academy, and will use the fruits it produces later, but now we're plugging along.

What I feel we should do though is not throw out players like Bekker (Cronin, Frei, and some of the other draft picks. Those guys are pure MLS standard quality players). He's likely an MLS calibre player (not great, but a solid piece), and with some experience, he'll be that standard MLS quality player that are academy is suppose to produce.Morgan and Henry have regressed since Winter left. Somehow Winter and co were able to get the best out of those two while Mariner and Nelsen have failed to do so. Reality is that those two don't give a shit about academy as much as Winter. In salary cap league, academy can be a HUGE asset to get cheap and young players while having them playing in team system and culture throughout their development stage controlled by the team. NCAA Draft is a joke! Drafting 22 and 23 year old rookies isn't the way to go. By that age, you should be contributing to first team in some capacity instead of developing.

[Yagbod]

like this?

http://i43.tinypic.com/2yl6zo9.jpg

Greatest Ripoff: Thank you, that is very cool of you to take the time to do this. Much appreciated.

Fort York: I like it. I will tell you the rest of my idea on Monday.

[Yagbod]

^pretty sure someone is using this photo already for a banner.


Do you know who? Is it one of the usual suspects? I would like to know for sure if someone is using it or not. PM me if you would like. Thanks!

[Greatest Ripoff]

Greatest Ripoff: Thank you, that is very cool of you to take the time to do this. Much appreciated.


No worries, it only took a couple of minutes.

[Redcoe15]

When Chuck Noll took over the hapless Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, he immediatly evaluated the talent on the squad to see why they always lost. He then called a meeting of his team to give them the answer.

He said the reason for the team's problems was the fact that none of them were any good. He then said that he'd keep about three of them around, and the rest would be shown the door.

Thus was the beginning of the groundwork that led to the Pittsburgh Steelers dunasty of the 1970s

I see Kevin Payne as MLS's answer to Chuck Noll. He knows the players on this team aren't any good, so they will soon be replaced by players that are good. Thus, paving the way for MLS titles in Toronto.

:scarf:

[Yohan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22469751

Good earnshaw article