Bono

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Am I losing my mind? Getting into an argument on twitter (first mistake) with some dude that thinks Bono should be traded/dropped. He doesn't rate him, doesn't believe he's a decent keeper, sites the last two games as reasons why. I on the other hand believe he's the best keeper we have ever had, used to think that about Irwin but was convinced by Bono this season. Am I mental?

[OgtheDim]

I think I've had that same discussion. Every possible opinion that can exist is out there on twitter somewhere.

[khso11]

Who ever that is, the person might just be trolling. Why would we ever drop a promising young GK. Ya, he makes mistakes here and there, all young players do, but at the end of the day he's serviceable and is clutch as well. He took the opportunity to get the #1 spot, and he got it. He'll be our GK for a while. Also, Irwin might be a major reason why he's playing so well, having 2 serviceable GK should always be the way for all teams.

[trane]

He saved us in the last game.

[Auzzy]

Bono has been off a bit in a few games. He made some amazing saves vs. Montreal this past weekend -- but some of those saves were necessitated by his own mistakes just before (poor/dangerous distribution; bobbling saveable shots). HOWEVER Bono has seemed a bit off usually when most of the team seems a bit discombobulated, sometimes even including Drew Moor. Therefore I wouldn't hold it against a young promising keeper. Seems like it's more of an issue of team mentality and strategy, that they all have to figure out together.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

He saved us in the last game.

Was my MoM last game

Thanks gents, wasn't sure if dude was seeing something I didn't

[trane]

^ I have to agree, he did cause some of the problems with his distribution. I was giving him a bit of a pass because the wind was effecting everything. Although he should have adjusted.

[Auzzy]

^ I have to agree, he did cause some of the problems with his distribution. I was giving him a bit of a pass because the wind was effecting everything. Although he should have adjusted.

I agree! And some of our seasoned veterans were repeating similar mistakes: e.g. soft passes in the wind, close to Montreal players who were intent on pressuring and intercepting. A number of our guys were having trouble adjusting, which is why I was thinking it was a team strategy & mentality thing. (Although I felt there were also some really great TFC passing sequences on Sunday, despite the conditions, even if they didn't end in goals. What a change from a few years ago, when TFC couldn't string 3 passes together on a perfect sunny day with no wind!)

[Red4ever]

Id rather have Frei.

But Bono has been very good.

[BenRhodes23]

For me it's Frei, Bono, Irwin as our top 3 ever. I feel bad for Irwin in the sense that he'd be starting on many other teams but Bono has been incredible for most of the season. I hope we can restructure Irwin's contract and keep him around for less money

[rydermike]

For me it's Frei, Bono, Irwin as our top 3 ever. I feel bad for Irwin in the sense that he'd be starting on many other teams but Bono has been incredible for most of the season. I hope we can restructure Irwin's contract and keep him around for less money

I likely see Irwin gone to LAFC in an expansion draft

[Initial B]

For me it's Frei, Bono, Irwin as our top 3 ever.
Um, I think I'd rate Julio Cesar above all of them.

[backbeat]

^ I have to agree, he did cause some of the problems with his distribution. I was giving him a bit of a pass because the wind was effecting everything. Although he should have adjusted.

Bono's distribution has been more than poor all season - wind be damned....

he has lots of potential, i agree - he has a promising future...

but he was certainly no MOTM last game

he - granted, and very skillfully - made incredible saves of his own created problems...

but

i'd prefer to see more of Irwin down the stretch and Hagglund for Moor.

[MartinUtd]

He's good but he's no Julio Cesar.

[BenRhodes23]

Um, I think I'd rate Julio Cesar above all of them.

In his prime, Cesar was obviously a better keeper but my list is based on their time in Toronto.

[Blindside16]

Bono has the ability to become an elite level keeper. He has his flaws and areas that he needs improving but lets keep in mind he is only 23. He still has a lot of maturing to do in his position but I believe that given the time he will hit the elite level in the league.

[OgtheDim]

Bono is a better distributor then Bendik.

[Derko]

Um, I think I'd rate Julio Cesar above all of them.

Except for that game in the World Cup against Germany, lol

[ensco]

There are serious people out there who think Bendik belongs in this season's MLS Best XI

[TFC Tifoso]

He definitely hasn't been the same since Zooropa, but I don't think trading him will do much.......

[Redpunkfiddle]

He definitely hasn't been the same since Zooropa, but I don't think trading him will do much.......

Wrong Bono. It's Sonny and Cher.

[Soccer Mum]

Am I losing my mind? Getting into an argument on twitter (first mistake) with some dude that thinks Bono should be traded/dropped. He doesn't rate him, doesn't believe he's a decent keeper, sites the last two games as reasons why. I on the other hand believe he's the best keeper we have ever had, used to think that about Irwin but was convinced by Bono this season. Am I mental?

Was it that sketchy redmapleleafsfc fella?

[Section_105]

Was it that sketchy redmapleleafsfc fella?

I was going to ask the same thing. That guy has some serious mental issues (and I mean that in a medical sense, not to be mean).

I'm also pretty certain he is an argos troll which would explain the intent but the manner of interaction is just insane. blocked him as no one has time for that. Twitter is a strange enough world as it is.

he's had multiple ID's FC_redmapleleaf, RedmapleleafFC, RedMapleleaf_fc..

[TFC Tifoso]

Wrong Bono. It's Sonny and Cher.

ah right!....my bad......

[Section_105]

ah right!....my bad......

LOL, Bono was born a year after Zooropa came out so ...damn i feel old.

[Prof]

Bono has been off a bit in a few games. He made some amazing saves vs. Montreal this past weekend -- but some of those saves were necessitated by his own mistakes just before (poor/dangerous distribution; bobbling saveable shots). HOWEVER Bono has seemed a bit off usually when most of the team seems a bit discombobulated, sometimes even including Drew Moor. Therefore I wouldn't hold it against a young promising keeper. Seems like it's more of an issue of team mentality and strategy, that they all have to figure out together.

He is a young keeper and I was worried this would happen after that 5-3 loss to Montreal. His confidence is a little shaky at the moment. You can see it especially when he has the ball at his feet. I think shut out last week hopefully gets him back to where he was most of the:drinking: season.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Was it that sketchy redmapleleafsfc fella?

HAHAHAHAHHA
Yes. Had to just end it after he credited the final to Irwin last year and Jozy/Seba/Bradley this year

[noimpactinmtl]

Except for that game in the World Cup against Germany, lol

Not even Neuer could escape from that mess of a game if he was on the other side.

[Oldtimer]

I was re-reading this thread. Bono seemed solid till near the end of last year, then his confidence seemed shaky.

I believe the same thing is continuing this year, Bono's real problem is not as much technical ability (although he has always been a better shot stopper than distributor of the ball) as it is something to do with his mentality.

Vanney tends to not pull players too quickly who are having momentary mentality problems but rather give them an opportunity to push through their issues. However, we can see that Bono's been in a funk for a while.

I think it's time for Vanney to give Westberg a run to see what he can do for the team.

[Red CB Toronto]

I was re-reading this thread. Bono seemed solid till near the end of last year, then his confidence seemed shaky.

I believe the same thing is continuing this year, Bono's real problem is not as much technical ability (although he has always been a better shot stopper than distributor of the ball) as it is something to do with his mentality.

Vanney tends to not pull players too quickly who are having momentary mentality problems but rather give them an opportunity to push through their issues. However, we can see that Bono's been in a funk for a while.

I think it's time for Vanney to give Westberg a run to see what he can do for the team.

I don't think we should be talking about about someones mental health unless they bring it up. Only Greg and Alex know exactly what's going on and its Greg's choice to do what he wants. Maybe he is sensitive to Alex's plight and does not want to send him into an even more darker place by sitting him. Its up to them to figure out what's going on. Hopefully they do.

[Oldtimer]

I don't think we should be talking about about someones mental health unless they bring it up. Only Greg and Alex know exactly what's going on and its Greg's choice to do what he wants. Maybe he is sensitive to Alex's plight and does not want to send him into an even more darker place by sitting him. Its up to them to figure out what's going on. Hopefully they do.

Woah, nobody's talking mental health here, we're talking things like confidence.

[Joe Kool]

I don't think we should be talking about about someones mental health unless they bring it up. Only Greg and Alex know exactly what's going on and its Greg's choice to do what he wants. Maybe he is sensitive to Alex's plight and does not want to send him into an even more darker place by sitting him. Its up to them to figure out what's going on. Hopefully they do.

Someone's mentality (confidence and whether he seems to be tuned into the game mentally not just physically present) and someone's mental health (clinical diagnosis) are two different things and Oldtimer is not saying anything about the latter at all.

I will say though that Bono hits himself a few times on each side of his head with his fist before the opening whistle each game and I think that is an odd behaviour but then again that might just be a superstitious thing. I have seen him do it after a goal that he let in at times as well which looked to me like he was punishing himself for the mistake. Again just the thought going through my head when I saw him do it. Maybe he does need a break for a bit away from the pressure. If they approach it right with him it shouldn't hurt his confidence and maybe even help him gain some back.

[Ultra & Proud]

Bono lost his confidence period. He was never fully assured in commanding the box and coming out to claim balls because his hands were always dodgy. Now you can see the wheels spinning when players are coming towards him. A GK can't be thinking "should I come out or should I stay on the line" whenever a chance comes up. It should all be instinctual and Bono doesn't have that going for him at all now. If anyone could use a stint on TFC2 to get that confidence back it would be Bono but since that's not happening hopefully the V-Cup matches can right his ship.

[ManUtd4ever]

It seems as though he's never recovered from that bad goal in the CCL final.

[DinamoTFC]

It seems as though he's never recovered from that bad goal in the CCL final.

100%

[Blindside16]

I am not fully ready yet to jettison Bono but I agree he needs to ride the bench for a while. As it has been said in another post, the keeper position is the one position where older is better. Hopefully he can work through his issues but he has played himself out of the starter position in my opinion

[JuliquE]

I am not fully ready yet to jettison Bono but I agree he needs to ride the bench for a while. As it has been said in another post, the keeper position is the one position where older is better. Hopefully he can work through his issues but he has played himself out of the starter position in my opinion
Fully agree with this post, save I would add to the part in bold that, to a lesser extent, centre-backs also benefit from age; obviously, you'd ideally pair him/her with a younger CB, mind.

[Ultra & Proud]

https://twitter.com/torontofc/status/1120707910030503942

This video shows what one of Bono's main problems is; his hands are terrible. Out of the 3 in this practice vid, he is the only one to bobble it bad enough that it could easily lead to a goal against. Starting to think the awfulness of his hands are what's keeping him from charging down crosses and is leading to his indecision on the line.

[Section_105]

https://twitter.com/torontofc/status/1120707910030503942

This video shows what one of Bono's main problems is; his hands are terrible. Out of the 3 in this practice vid, he is the only one to bobble it bad enough that it could easily lead to a goal against. Starting to think the awfulness of his hands are what's keeping him from charging down crosses and is leading to his indecision on the line.

in fairness though Bono's shot was the only one of the 3 above the keepers head line. The others had the shot at their face or chest so a bit of a different look for each.

[Ultra & Proud]

in fairness though Bono's shot was the only one of the 3 above the keepers head line. The others had the shot at their face or chest so a bit of a different look for each.

But it's something he has struggled with since we drafted him. Improved for a while but now back to very dodgy.

[Oldtimer]

I am not fully ready yet to jettison Bono but I agree he needs to ride the bench for a while. As it has been said in another post, the keeper position is the one position where older is better. Hopefully he can work through his issues but he has played himself out of the starter position in my opinion

No reason to ditch Bono, just time to give Westberg a start. The first look of Westberg was promising. Let's see what he can do.
Riding the pine might be the best thing for Bono at this point, and maybe he's a better backup than a #1.

[DinamoTFC]

https://twitter.com/torontofc/status/1120707910030503942

This video shows what one of Bono's main problems is; his hands are terrible. Out of the 3 in this practice vid, he is the only one to bobble it bad enough that it could easily lead to a goal against. Starting to think the awfulness of his hands are what's keeping him from charging down crosses and is leading to his indecision on the line.

As much as I'm dissapointed in Bono lately and want him to sit out a bit, this is a training video and shouldnt hold any weight whatsoever. They probably did 300 attempts of that drill and the video catches one. Who knows how tired they are.

[Ultra & Proud]

As much as I'm dissapointed in Bono lately and want him to sit out a bit, this is a training video and shouldnt hold any weight whatsoever. They probably did 300 attempts of that drill and the video catches one. Who knows how tired they are.
This is true but it doesn't excuse the fact that he has bad hands and shows it in pretty much every match.

[Canary10]

I was firmly in the give him a chance camp but you can't give away a goal a game the way he's been doing. I agree with Ultra too, he bobbles a lot. He's a decent enough shot blocker but, again, you can't give away a goal every game, and his distribution is poor. Time to change it up.