Match Day 5 - Atlanta @ TFC Sat March 23 7:38pm - Just ...

[OgtheDim]

confusion drifting swirling to my knees




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACqnH1RKL1w&ab_channel=ArcLateralus


******

Have at It People

[Blindside16]

With the Go train situation being an absolute shit show, I think it will be a thin crowd for this one. Atlanta will be without their top striker and most likely their best midfielder. We should be able to pull a positive result from this one

[tfcfans]

Chance of snow and -5C isn’t going to help attendance either……

[Mikmacdo]

With the Go train situation being an absolute shit show, I think it will be a thin crowd for this one. Atlanta will be without their top striker and most likely their best midfielder. We should be able to pull a positive result from this one
Almada is out?

[jloome]

Almada is out?

Nope, Argentina didn't call him up for this one.

But being without Giakoumakis is very good for us. He's a fucking machine, that guy.

[MikeForbes]

Nope, Argentina didn't call him up for this one.

But being without Giakoumakis is very good for us. He's a fucking machine, that guy.

Scored a banger last night against Orlando.

[reggie]

Nope, Argentina didn't call him up for this one.

But being without Giakoumakis is very good for us. He's a fucking machine, that guy.
apparently 6 atl players have been called for intl duty including almada for the arg u 23s

[reggie]

Atlanta United will play without several key players for its March 23 match at Toronto.
Because of international call-ups, the team will play without striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, midfielders Thiago Almada, Bartosz Slisz and Jay Fortune, fullback Caleb Wiley and centerback luis abarm
.
(https://www.ajc.com/staff/doug-roberson/)

[jloome]

apparently 6 atl players have been called for intl duty including almada for the arg u 23s

Good catch! They made a note in the senior team story that he hadn't been called up "for tactical reasons" and I guess that's why, because he's playing for the junior team.

Well that greatly improves our chances.

[SenorDingDong]

Giorgio is on fire right now. Golden boot potential.

Would love to have a striker like that..

What is our lineup looking?

[jloome]

Giorgio is on fire right now. Golden boot potential.

Would love to have a striker like that..

What is our lineup looking?

No Richie, No Oso, likely no Johnson or Petretta. No Flores, unfortunately.

So probably

-----------Owusu-----------
-----Insgine---Fede-------
JMR---Coello--Longstaff--Franklin
-----Rosted--Long--O'Neill
----------Gavran

...would be my guess.

[Mikmacdo]

No Richie, No Oso, likely no Johnson or Petretta. No Flores, unfortunately.

So probably

-----------Owusu-----------
-----Insgine---Fede-------
JMR---Coello--Longstaff--Franklin
-----Rosted--Long--O'Neill
----------Gavran

...would be my guess. Looks right to me, I hope we can see spicer for 20-30 mins.

[leedsandTFC]

atlanta will be missing giakoumakis and almada, which is huge.

they've scored 6 goals this year, GG has 4, almada 1, and GG has 1 assist.

[ronzilla]

This could turn into another ugly game unless we have at least 2 of 3 Petretta, Johnson, or Flores.

I'm just so done with Rosted.

If they are down and Akinola comes on, my screen will go black.

[jloome]

Atlanta's starting centre half Stian Gregerson is out with a knee injury.

[Mikmacdo]

This could turn into another ugly game unless we have at least 2 of 3 Petretta, Johnson, or Flores.

I'm just so done with Rosted.

If they are down and Akinola comes on, my screen will go black. flores is away with HON, Johnson meh Gavran is doing great.

[Stress]

With below freezing temps in the forecast, it’s going to be a sloppy game. Wonder if they take precautions with anyone simply due to the cold. Hopefully we see Insigne and Bernardeschi because with all the international absences, they are key to giving us a chance.

[ensco]

Games at night in March are an FU to players and fans alike.

Saturday forecast is plus 3 at 2pm, minus 4 at 7pm

[Canary10]

Games at night in March are an FU to players and fans alike.

Saturday forecast is plus 3 at 2pm, minus 4 at 7pm

Yup, totally agree.

[OgtheDim]

Yeh with the transit mess and the temps, I am choosing to watch this one from home.

[Slick]

Games at night in March are an FU to players and fans alike.

Saturday forecast is plus 3 at 2pm, minus 4 at 7pm

You can add another middle finger with no Go train service on Lakeshore West. My seats will be sitting empty. I'm not even gonna bother giving them away.

[Oldtimer]

Given the freezing cold weather, players out, and GO Transit nightmare, as well as a Canada game earlier -- I'd be surprised if BMO isn't half empty or worse.

[JonO]

I would give mine away IF I could even find someone interested in going.

[Auzzy]

Does anyone know if the new bridge over the tracks, providing easier access from Liberty Village, will be open for this game again?

[leedsandTFC]

I would give mine away IF I could even find someone interested in going.

I need an extra if you've got it!

[leedsandTFC]

Atlanta down 5 starters including 2 dps (LB, cb, cm, cam, st).

Definitely more depleted than us especially if our 2 dps play.

[Kamp Berg]

Does anyone know if the new bridge over the tracks, providing easier access from Liberty Village, will be open for this game again?

I’m pretty sure they announced it would be opened temporarily for the game this weekend.

[ensco]

Game day :canada:

(I will watch the TFC highlights tomorrow morning.)

[MikeForbes]

Atlanta down 5 starters including 2 dps (LB, cb, cm, cam, st).

Definitely more depleted than us especially if our 2 dps play.

Yeah, I would consider us the favorites. Especially playing at home in awful conditions.

[ensco]

But do you want our DPs to play? It'll be minus 8 with the wind chill, the refs are amateurs, Atlanta will mark them with scrubs who will scythe them like lumberjacks… someone is getting hurt with this setup, guaranteed.

I'd be fine if we rolled out TFC2 in its entirety for this insane game.

[CBTFC]

A game upon the frozen tundra, the ball will moving a bit slower and heavier in the colder air

[SoccMan2]

On March 27th. 2022 Canada Jamaica World Cup qualifying at BMO it was something like -5 with strong winds probably one of the coldest games I’ve ever been to at BMO and that’s including both MLS Cups that Toronto FC played in that I attended. It will be cold tonight but I can’t see it being colder than on that day in 2022 .

[nfitz]

I can't even give my tickets away for this one. I've never seen so many tickets listed on Ticketmaster, or such a price collapse.

[ensco]

On March 27th. 2022 Canada Jamaica World Cup qualifying at BMO it was something like -5 with strong winds probably one of the coldest games I’ve ever been to at BMO and that’s including both MLS Cups that Toronto FC played in that I attended. It will be cold tonight but I can’t see it being colder than on that day in 2022 .

That CMNT v Jamaica game was not the coldest BMO game I have been at.

Disagree about the MLS Cup. The coldest was MLS Cup 2016, that was minus 12 and the wind was really blowing. The next coldest was probably the opener against Portland in 2011 (when the pipes froze).

There were also absolutely brutal early games in CCL against Colorado and a Panamanian team, which I did not attend. One of those was probably the absolute coldest.

[Prof]

I have 3 tickets to tonight’s game.
I can’t make it tonight as I have other obligations.
Anyone who would like to go to the game please message me. Tickets are complimentary.

[jloome]

Forecast now is to be 2 degrees at 7 p.m. So, cold, but nothing close to as bad as BMO has been.

[ensco]

Forecast now is to be 2 degrees at 7 p.m. So, cold, but nothing close to as bad as BMO has been.

If that holds, maybe I would play Fede. I sit Insigne no matter what.

Respect to those attending/watching, I am off to the Canada thread until tomorrow morning...

[MikeForbes]

Kerr starts upfront. Spicy T with his first career start.

https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1771668220543377898?s=20

[jloome]

Kerr starts upfront. Spicy T with his first career start.

https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1771668220543377898?s=20

Hope Kerr's quicker on the press than he was last year. Didn't apply much pressure defensively and we require that now.

[MikeForbes]

Atlanta's starters. Still got a few guys who can hurt you. Muyumba is a really solid CM.

https://twitter.com/ATLUTD/status/1771665339924808131?s=20

[MikeForbes]

Hope Kerr's quicker on the press than he was last year. Didn't apply much pressure defensively and we require that now.

I am concerned about the midfield. Coello has been a weaker link to start the season and Longstaff is still working his way back into game shape.

[OgtheDim]

Yeh, that could have been a lot worse but still concerned about that midfield.

[OgtheDim]

FWIW 3-4-3

https://twitter.com/TorontoFC/status/1771679569474707677

[MikeForbes]

Definitely missing Flores right now. Lots of room behind Longstaff and Coello.

[FiveThreeTwo]

that ball looks and prob feels like a concrete block lol

[OgtheDim]

Spicer putting in crosses at the near post thinking "well I would be going there..." and Kerr doesn't go.

These guys are not used to speed that can cross the ball low & hard.

[OgtheDim]

O'Neill has had lot of concussions - he might be gone here.

[MikeForbes]

Shame about Shane. He has been our most improved player.

Alas, Mabika season is upon us.

[MikeForbes]

Spicer's profile and movement just screams striker to me.

[OgtheDim]

Yeh, neither of these midfields are all that good.

[rydermike]

The #1 pick gets #1

[MikeForbes]

Spicer's profile and movement just screams striker to me.

You are so smart, man!

[James17930]

Spicer's profile and movement just screams striker to me.

As you say!

[rydermike]

You are so smart, man!
Summer of Spicer

[OgtheDim]

Spicer's profile and movement just screams striker to me.

ya think?

[FiveThreeTwo]

noice, does that goal effectively put him above akinola on the pecking order now? lol

[FiveThreeTwo]

won't get the credit for it, but on the reply one will notice rosted taking the overlap on that insigne play and telling/pointing for spicer to make the inside run to overload box. Nice little team movement on that play. Seeing more and more in herdmans system he likes his outside CB's in the back three not being afraid to get forward to support if there is a need for more bodies into a space to support (o'neills be doing it for 3 games now b4 injury).

[OgtheDim]

noice, does that goal effectively put him above akinola on the pecking order now? lol

God I hope so

but

he's going to get levelled a few times if he does plays like that - MLS teams deal with speed only 1 way - they chop at it.

[MikeForbes]

That was so pretty. A shame Kerr couldn't finish.

[FiveThreeTwo]

that sequence made me realize if we ever get deep enough in the roster I want to see a game with insigne and berna on the same side - berna playin WB lol (even for a single half). Imagine we had a proper taller #9 who was getting constant whipped crosses like that into a box (among freedom of being open cause that side of the wing would be so heavily defended)

[MikeForbes]

Insigne and his wonky calf looks to have flaired up...

[ag futbol]

Damnit. Why are we playing in these conditions?

[MikeForbes]

Get Franklin on, put JMR on the left. Spicer playing higher on the field.

[jloome]

I sit Insigne no matter what....

Prescient. Cold weather and hamstrings do not go well together.

[MikeForbes]

That just sucks though. A great first half ends with a black cloud hanging over it.

[OgtheDim]

Yeh, he's felt that one before and knows it...we'll see how long but not a good sign when he knows what it feels like.

[ronzilla]

Good first half. Spicer looking great.

Insigne out..ugggf. Hope its not serious.

[MikeForbes]

Kosi Thompson must kill it in training because I have yet to see anything from him in games. And this is the third straight manager who shovels minutes to him.

[ag futbol]

Kilbane is going hard on that one chance too much. It’s tough to get that header in a good place when the ball comes in that tight.

Kerr is doing well holding up the ball tonight.

[jloome]

Fucking terrible technique from Thompson there, doesn't get over the ball at all. Geez.

[rydermike]

Kosi Thompson must kill it in training because I have yet to see anything from him in games. And this is the third straight manager who shovels minutes to him.
It must be all the weight on his legs from those tiny XXXS shin pads that mess up his performance. He probably doesn't practice with them

[jloome]

Damn Spicer's a tidy player.

[OgtheDim]

Kerr at least can hold onto the ball and lay off.


Lets see what Owusu can do.


Need a goal.

[MikeForbes]

Prince gets his first tonight. Got 5 dollars on it.

[jloome]

That should be our ball. That's a loose arm when Long had position, so it should be an injury stop with a drop ball to us.

Fuck, this officiating can't go soon enough.

[MikeForbes]

I rate this Xande Silva guy. Gotta be careful not to give him time and space.

[rydermike]

Why wouldn't he have brought on Osorio at the same time as Prince? This is our last sub opportunity. We've had two injuries in this cold, if there's more we're out of sub opportunities

[FiveThreeTwo]

bringing oso now for a 30 minute run about when we've lost two guys and are up 1... is really rolling the dice level of shit. optically dunno how that looks for NT stuff too but i dunno bout that sub

[613reppingTFC]

Yeah the officiating is absolute garbage. They have from what I can tell at least 4 throw ins they haven't been called their way. The corner kick and then that foul on Long..just terrible

[jloome]

Oooh, that was smart from JMR. Lordie, he's looked good today.

That's a really good sign generally.

[jloome]

Spicer is QUICK. Damn.

Edit: Confident, too. Maybe a little too much.

[MikeForbes]

Oooh, that was smart from JMR. Lordie, he's looked good today.

That's a really good sign generally.

His confidence is rising, he looks really good tonight. I won't harp on about the Richie thing, I know I am in the minority, but signing a max TAM RWB wasn't needed.

[OgtheDim]

This is where we miss Floris.

[FiveThreeTwo]

Prince gets his first tonight. Got 5 dollars on it.

ur on a heater tonight, hit up 7/11 rn

[rydermike]

Royalty has struck. Prince

[MikeForbes]

The Prince of the North!

[SenorDingDong]

So happy for Prince. He's deserved that for a bit

[OgtheDim]

That looks offside...

[jloome]

Onside.

Because they dropped behind the ball before he reached it and poked it in, putting the play back onside.

So he hadn't affected the play by the time it reset back as 'onside'.

[rydermike]

Does MLS have concussion subs? Could O'neill have been a concussion sub and we have one left?

[jloome]

Fede wants a goal.

Osorio sub late is inspired. They can't contain the two of them.

[MikeForbes]

This season has been so much fun so far.

[James17930]

Very impressed with this second half performance. All the young guys seem to be playing very well together.

[FiveThreeTwo]

am I going insane or did that atl player just bat that ball with his hand after the throw in... and nobody saw it lol?

[MikeForbes]

Shoutout to Mabika. Has looked very good after being forced into action.

[Bobo]

Atlanta are so bad tonight, they're making Rosted look like Vidic.

[FiveThreeTwo]

Damn Spicer's a tidy player.

was waiting until the end of the game to not jinx this but Gavran has also been tidy as hell since being given opportunity with SJ out. Might be a tad premature with what im about to say below, but even if we didn't have SJ... seeing his development now vs. Bono not sure Bono would have lasted lol.

Being 23 years old with his composure and reflexes... if he's parked behind SJ once he gets back, after a season or so not sure he's gonna be stickin around. He's got the height, reflexes and composure factors that seem to come natural with some keepers and if he keeps his head up there's gonna be other teams starting to pay attention - but we have had some rock solid defence since we got long so that helps too

Be interesting to see what happens when SJ comes back. Some coaches would see it as a serious lack of respect for luka's play to just yank him out of the lineup with him not really having many if any gaffes

[ag futbol]

These are character wins for this team. As much as we are short handed Atlanta is perhaps even more. Game we need to win and we did.

It’s almost like Bob Bradley was a crap manger or something like that.

[SenorDingDong]

I agree. This was a must win game even with Flores / SJ missing. Last year it didn't feel like we would have done it.

Insane that we are 75% if the way to our win total of Las season.

[OgtheDim]

Job done..make it difficult to lose at home by playing on the front foot

Insigne injury will suk

Still issues in various places but soo much more fun to watch then last year

[AdamAM]

Tidy win. JMR playing with so much more confidence, seems to have turned the corner in his development. Spicer is good too!

[SenorDingDong]

Insigne injury will suk


You just know it's going to be 2 months. He started off so well too...

[Yuushalinsky]

You just know it's going to be 2 months. He started off so well too...

As long as it's not a tear and he takes it easy we'll be OK - hoping for the best though.

Spicer can hold down the fort hopefully

[jloome]

Tidy win. JMR playing with so much more confidence, seems to have turned the corner in his development. Spicer is good too!

Imagine how much more dangerous this team gets when we have Spicer wide left and Richie wide right.

[OgtheDim]

Imagine how much more dangerous this team gets when we have Spicer wide left and Richie wide right.

And a #9 actually crashing the near post on low hard crosses

(None of our current forwards do that which is just weird)

[ManUtd4ever]

Insigne's injury put a damper on what was otherwise a very positive result. Great effort with a depleted lineup and a well deserved victory.

Spicer was impressive and now I assume he'll get an extended look in the starting lineup in Insigne's spot.

[ManUtd4ever]

Imagine how much more dangerous this team gets when we have Spicer wide left and Richie wide right.

It's obviously still very early, but I am starting to think this team could be in the playoff hunt in the second half of the season if we can stay healthy. Herdman has done a masterful job thus far of instilling confidence in the group as a whole.

[OgtheDim]

FWIW

Post game presser

https://www.torontofc.ca/video/postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024#postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024

[DinamoTFC]

That second half was very entertaining and a breath of fresh air after the last few seasons. The team is being built well and players giving a lot more effort and intensity. Gotta give Herdman credit when it's due, he looks lights above what we had in Bob.

[DinamoTFC]

FWIW

Post game presser

https://www.torontofc.ca/video/postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024#postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024

A very refreshing presser with Herdman being open and giving as much information as he knows. Admittedly I haven't watched pressers in a while since Bob completely turned me off with his arrogance and lack of basic info, but this was nice to listen to.

Looking back, jeez I despise Bob even more than I did as each game passes with increasing positivity.

[jloome]

FWIW

Post game presser

https://www.torontofc.ca/video/postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024#postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024

LOL, if anyone doubts the buy-in, consider that in his interview Spicer uses the term "John always says" four times in the first minute and twenty-six seconds.

[leedsandTFC]

team is good, and if insigne is out a few weeks, i genuinely think we'll be able to comfortably survive.

oso can fit in that spot, the overlaps from spicer will give a different dimension completely.

kerr is a difference maker too as he's excellent and allows owusu to come off the bench where he's been very good.

[Bushmancan]

FWIW

Post game presser

https://www.torontofc.ca/video/postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024#postgame-sound-john-herdman-march-23-2024

I have to say, i really debated staying inside but glad I didn’t. The big thing in the pressers is that they all talked about thanking the fans for coming out on a night like that. Can’t remember a game in recent history where a group of guys worked so hard. Everyone just put in full days work - Rosted, Coelho, JMR, Bernie may not have got the limelight tonight but never stopped. Fun game to watch.

[OgtheDim]

Of note in that presser

Gosh, the man is open about tactics afterwards...he discussed the metric on our high line and the press stats for Atlanta. He's democratising that "magic" and making the prep & work something for us to see & understand. Through that, he's creating buy in and saying to the fans "See, we are working hard, we are not taking you for granted"

Floris back next game

The health staff are in charge of minutes watch for recovery and he can only push so much - that's a directive he's bought into but it came down from Hernandez.

Defence will be this team's main and continuous effort focus - they were ticked after NYC.

Spicer is a WB in this team - we will see if there is a change with Insigne out.

Spicer's toe was broken - that injury happened before he was drafted.

We have a WB coach.

Insigne's issues are usually calf - this is hamstring so who knows.

Some realism - "You will lose games" but don't lose back to back.

Top 5 is his goal and there is a ppg goal for now of around 2 - that can't be maintained in the summer and they know it which is why the 4th phase, games 11 and on, are when the depth comes in. i.e. they expect to lose a bit more in the middle and then come back at it in the last 10.

[barticusz]

Really enjoyed that match. I'm fully bought in on Herdman as well. Even when we finally hit a losing streak, I fully trust in his ability both to maintain positive culture during that low point but also to adjust tactics whenever needed.

JMR was so fun to watch that last game. He's really starting to come into his own and in many ways, the injury to Richie is going to do wonders for JMR to get the necessary development minutes he needs.

Overall, solid performance and hope that Insigne isn't gone for 3+months too.

[dal524]

Yesterday was a funny game in that I thought it was the teams best this season so far but they had alot of regulars missing due to injury or int duty (and same with atl). So hard to get a good sense of what this win means in the big picture of the season. But 2 goals and a clean sheet is always good.

I do think spicer looks promising and provides more to our attack. Prince to me looks lost at times (but in comparison to akinola...) and Thompson had several poor touches, some not even under pressure. Could have easily had a couple more goals last night (bernaedeshi, Osorio, kerr chances) and did not feel like we were on our heels defensively outside of the 10min before our second goal. Previous games this season did not feel that way. Will be tough to rely on insigne much given it seems he is injury prone. You would think bernardeschi would be the one more prone to injury given he is running up and down the field for alot of the game.

Optimistic for another w next Saturday accompanied by some warmer weather.

[Oldtimer]

I have to say, i really debated staying inside but glad I didn’t. The big thing in the pressers is that they all talked about thanking the fans for coming out on a night like that. Can’t remember a game in recent history where a group of guys worked so hard. Everyone just put in full days work - Rosted, Coelho, JMR, Bernie may not have got the limelight tonight but never stopped. Fun game to watch.

After the forecast got even worse I debated staying home. So glad I didn't.
The team did work really hard, and their strategic technical tricks with backheels and such (obviously practiced) used to throw off Atlanta were fun to watch.

[Oldtimer]

Of note in that presser

Gosh, the man is open about tactics afterwards...he discussed the metric on our high line and the press stats for Atlanta. He's democratising that "magic" and making the prep & work something for us to see & understand. Through that, he's creating buy in and saying to the fans "See, we are working hard, we are not taking you for granted"



Seeing how he thinks things through raises my respect so much for the man. If it does that for a fan, imagine what it's like playing for him. Well we see it, some players (including our DPs) seem totally transformed, and we can see the buy-in.

[FiveThreeTwo]

Of note in that presser

Gosh, the man is open about tactics afterwards...he discussed the metric on our high line and the press stats for Atlanta. He's democratising that "magic" and making the prep & work something for us to see & understand. Through that, he's creating buy in and saying to the fans "See, we are working hard, we are not taking you for granted"

.

Yeah I felt like this was also a positive trait vanney carried (although not as happy/outgoing/ted lasso about the vibes) that helped provide that transparency for fans and media and gave more credibility during that rebuild that they were putting in the work, and there was methods and systems to the madness and things weren't just 'extreme luck'. Talking in detail about tactical makeups, or not being afraid of throwing that educator/academy coach hat on to explain in easy ways what they are doing, what might have went wrong and they have to do better - and just shining a massive 1M lumen light on their process.

Contrast that with Bob and armas years where everything was shrouded in darkness and hardly ever were there any real approaches to building bridges with the fans on the inner workings or thought process for a game plan. It truly pissed me off how we went from vanney and his relatively open educative mindset with media and fans (bez included) for 4-5 years until this year in time where everything was hid behind big black curtains under the words "just trust us, were working hard". So far with John its been awesome, hope it continues. Not to wax poetic on leadership topics but its the hallmark of a good leadership group when they understand the power of keeping every stakeholder around them up to date, engaged, and apart of the process - aren't afraid of dumbing down the conversation so everyone understands, or shining lights on the problems when things don't go like they wanted (*cough see James vowles at williams f1 for someone who crushes this). Long may it last please lol

[CBTFC]

Spicer looks simply fantastic out there, you would think he's a seasoned veteran.

Overall really impressed with how they played on Saturday.

If we play like that each time, we'll always have a chance to win.

[ag futbol]

Spicer looks simply fantastic out there, you would think he's a seasoned veteran.

Overall really impressed with how they played on Saturday.

If we play like that each time, we'll always have a chance to win.
I agree with the sentiment. It’s worth watching this team even if it’s a work in progress. More than I thought we’d get out of TFC this year.

[jloome]

I agree with the sentiment. It’s worth watching this team even if it’s a work in progress. More than I thought we’d get out of TFC this year.

I don't think we should understate how shit Atlanta was, though. We weren't great, we were competent. They were awful.

[Yuushalinsky]

I don't think we should understate how shit Atlanta was, though. We weren't great, we were competent. They were awful.

I was talking about this with my pal, Atlanta looked horrible. I don't know what happened with them but holy crap, they have no offensive firepower without certain players.

[leedsandTFC]

I don't think we should understate how shit Atlanta was, though. We weren't great, we were competent. They were awful.

true, but we've played quite a few teams like that over last few years and still managed to not win or lose.

also can't remember us creating that many chances in one game in years (one half really, the 2nd half).

[JoesphNdo]

I don't think we should understate how shit Atlanta was, though. We weren't great, we were competent. They were awful.

This is true, they were missing alot of players - absolutely vital players, at that. All things considered we are almost certainly quite alot worse than our record shows

But I don't care, it's still true this team is so much more fun to watch than we have been in years. We could lose the next ten and I'd still have more fun watching it than any team since 2019, really. I just want a team that is playing together, playing for the team and a manager who can rally everyone behind a gameplan. I feel like for far two long TFC was about the egos of a small group of people, and everything else was secondary, and frankly it made me borderline want to see them fail by the mid point of last year just for the long term good of the club - I no longer feel that way. I'd rather watch this team win a corner than last years team win a game. The fact that we're doing so well is just the bonus on top.

My main hope is still that we're okay this year, and can make the roster changes needed to become good in 2025

Still think Manning is hugely detrimental to the success of the club and needs to be removed ASAP, mind you.

[SenorDingDong]

This is true, they were missing alot of players - absolutely vital players, at that. All things considered we are almost certainly quite alot worse than our record shows

But I don't care, it's still true this team is so much more fun to watch than we have been in years. We could lose the next ten and I'd still have more fun watching it than any team since 2019, really. I just want a team that is playing together, playing for the team and a manager who can rally everyone behind a gameplan. I feel like for far two long TFC was about the egos of a small group of people, and everything else was secondary, and frankly it made me borderline want to see them fail by the mid point of last year just for the long term good of the club - I no longer feel that way. I'd rather watch this team win a corner than last years team win a game. The fact that we're doing so well is just the bonus on top.

My main hope is still that we're okay this year, and can make the roster changes needed to become good in 2025

Still think Manning is hugely detrimental to the success of the club and needs to be removed ASAP, mind you.

Last year we didn't win these games. I remember the NY Redbulls and Chicago Fire games we played them at home. They were bottom of the table. We didn't manage to win either.

[ag futbol]

Last year we didn't win these games. I remember the NY Redbulls and Chicago Fire games we played them at home. They were bottom of the table. We didn't manage to win either.
Yeah, I remember the sinking feeling of “they have to win this one, don’t they?” Only to watch the team fall flat.

We’re not a top table team but I wouldn’t rule out a playoff appearance this year. Or finish just into the top half of the east.

[SenorDingDong]

Yeah, I remember the sinking feeling of “they have to win this one, don’t they?” Only to watch the team fall flat.

We’re not a top table team but I wouldn’t rule out a playoff appearance this year. Or finish just into the top half of the east.

It's tough to say. I think we need a true star #9 to really go anywhere. But so far no team looks invincible. Inter Miami's defense is shockingly bad.

Id say Columbus and Cinci look the strongest.

[los sonadores]

I don't think we should understate how shit Atlanta was, though. We weren't great, we were competent. They were awful.

Competent at times and in certain aspects is the best I’ve seen us so far - with brief flashes of something more. True, I haven’t seen all the matches but teams don’t usually move instantly from competent (and not entirely competent) to the next level.

Competent will certainly win games in this league and too we’ve had a more than a fair amount of good fortune to do with the states of the clubs we’ve faced. Some lucky breaks, excellent keeping.

Mostly we’ve got the ‘buy in’, the everyone working for the other (or when not at least working hard), and a certain amount of confidence.

That “mostly” just above, has 100% do with Herdman and his staff.

Long, Flores, the work Herdman is doing with the younger players (I’d say JMR is Herdman’s ‘special project’ the way Richie was Vanney’s) all help quite a bit, and then there are the Italians and the defence - the return of Petretta to something more like his form in the Europa and Champions leagues with Basel; someone here pointed out Rosted was the one who moved Spicer inside for his first goal and covered for him; O’Neil is more useful in MLS playing something of that Canada Alastair Johnson role than he has ever been.

There is no substitute for a sensitivity to what players are/need individually and as a group, and no substitute for high professionalism.

Even if it takes a while to improve the roster further it seems to me we are in very good hands. I don’t see this all going wrong, though it should take some more time.

And of course the fates can intervene with injuries, etc, etc., overall one never knows in MLS. But these are different matters, I think.