I think he's the prime candidate. I could be wrong, but nobody would take Ayo at this point. He's just not coming back from that injury.
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Outgoing sounds like maybe it’s a loan. Peruzza? Ayo? Mailula?
Also wonder if the incoming is another Striker? Too far along before Prince offered new hope.
I suspect it's a speedy mid who can play wide or inside. Kobi isn't good enough in two directions. Spicer's a good young player but pretty raw for MLS, Insigne has injury issues and the rest of the WB crew past Richie is basically Petretta and JMR. And it's a key position for him.
At the same time, we look slow in the middle. But if he brings in a hole player or fast two-way mid, that suggests either Longstaff or Oso is sitting.
Could be a central defender, as O'Neil's concussion issues might be necessitating it. He clearly doesn't have a ton of confidence in Rosted or Mabika.
Tough to say, though. Most likely a wide two-way player.
So someone is leaving today, and possibly a new signing coming in? That seems to be what various twitter messages are saying that I've been trying to piece together.
Andrew Gutman just came back from a hammie after getting transferred to Chicago this year. He's missed most of the season so far, so Chicago may have moved on and be happy with his replacement. Certainly a Herdman-type marauding wingback.
His contract ends this fall so they chose to waive and eat the salary but the waiving cleared international roster spot. Apparently you can waive him, clear his spot, still pay him his $585K for 2024, but that $585K still counts against our cap. If they bought him out then it would free the cap space too.
Yeah, I think this was the last info I heard. Which became “buyout” on this board. I don’t think anything from the club or reporters (as few of them as there are) mentioned a buyout.
In TFC budget news, Molinaro mentioned this in his free newsletter:
“Sources close to the club have told TFC Republic that Hernandez is dealing with a tight budget from MLSE when it comes to signing players and that they are unwilling to give him the extra money he could use to spend on recruitments. The same sources said that this is expected to be the case for the foreseeable future and that if Toronto is going to bolster its roster, it would likely have to be done either via an intra-league trade, a free transfer or some other mechanism with little to no cost involved.”
This confirms what JLoome and others have heard directly… or speculated based on Hernandez’s pressers and the recent lack of our usual ways of the past ten years. It also explains our signings since around the time Hernandez took over.
edit: It might explain Hernandez as well. Promoting from within rather than spending on a new Sporting Director.
So Richie confirmed as the 3rd DP. What, in the fuck is that? Do people like that little signing now? I hate it even more now knowing this. Instead of being patient with it... Forget it, the singing is done..
I am excited to see who is this player were bringing in either today or tomorrow...
Yeah, good point. We had Bob as our only ever Sporting Director, so, a bogus kind of title - he was what is traditionally a GM.
I guess I’m for Hernandez if he can make good signings. Which at first he didn’t seem to and now, with Herdman here, and with what seems like a bit more professional scouting department, he has.
But this is a big shift in the model. It’s less “analytics based” and more “the cupboard is bare, sort it out without additional budget”. The money he has to sign anyone, and the more meagre mechanisms that come from the lack of budget are in effect totally different from what Bob and the others going back to 2014 had.
Got a feeling this player is coming from within MLS. Someone like a Keaton Parks from NYCFC would be ideal for the midfield. Maybe Jackson Yueill is getting sick of being in San Jose?
I think most people missed when Herdman stated in Friday's presser that NE was playing with 3 DPs while TFC was playing with 1. Hernandez comments today confirms my suspicions although I'm surprised there's no TAM/GAM buydown for Oso. I really, really want to know how his contract was re-structured. I assume there's some type of post-retirement agreement in there as he's taking a 50% pay cut. I would assume at least 3 years added to his deal. So here's here guaranteed until 2028? Maybe some deal to join the FO after his playing days are done?
note: the incoming player IS NOT a striker. If anyone here read the TFC Republic article with direct Jason Hernandez quotes, you'll see that's the case. You can also filter down to get an approximate idea of what kind of player it is. It also sounds really close to being done and may be dependent on the player, not the club they're coming from. I'm speculating it's a loan with option to buy player.
also to note: Dio WILL NOT be bought out. I think this is a game Jason's playing with Diomande. I had prior suspicions that Dio would wait for the buyout to sign with Stabaek, but I think Jason basically said today "you first. we're not buying you out".
he'll only be a DP this season. Next season sounds like he'll be bought down. I think Jason's using DP tag as a lever to bring in TAM/GAM guys who are under contract for many years but not getting the minutes in higher leagues. We'll probably see more of these kinds of moves each year until TFC is stacked.
I think outgoing is MLS. Incoming is overseas.
I had a few people quote this board on Twitter/X when I was saying he hadn't been bought out yet.
This is a clear game of chicken. Dio wants to play but is assuming he'll get bought out so he's waiting until the buyout to sign. Jason's slamming back saying you'll need to wait until December. So ball is now in Dio's court. Does he sit on his butt and wait for the contract to end or does he want to play now?
If we're thinking he wants the free money first, does that also lower his stock come January 2025 in finding new work or is it better to forego the remaining salary owed and sign now so he can build up his value again in time for 2025. I'm sure there's teams that will pay him a decent amount now on a 1 year deal even if it's a 50% haircut. I think Jason's going to win the game of chicken.
Coello, Franklin, (outside shot) Petretta.
Someone taking a shot on Mailula? LOL
Clearly I need to start hitting the "reply with quote" option instead of just reply. My message board game is clearly rusty.
Bogert published a piece today with some names being discussed around MLS.
Some brief notes
- Xavier Arreaga from Seattle and Dave Romney from NER are two players being shopped within MLS.
- Griffin Yow and Danny Wilson could be returning to MLS.
- Nottingham Forrest prospect Alex Mighten has interest from MLS.
from davidson
Hernandez said he would be similar to Honduran midfielder Deybi Flores who signed in January — "a guy at a good age, of a good pedigree, that we imagine to be with us for several years, someone who's going to be a core starter for us week in and week out and really impact winning."
so someone 26- 27 playing in euro lower leagues.probs another mid any hondurans.herdman mentioned a honduran a few weeks ago?
Danny Wilson fits our profile, lots of time in England, lots of time here. Mighten fits need but we probably don't have the cash to pay him.
Arreaga or Romney would seem mostly likely. We have a working relationship of sorts with New England, so I can see us getting Romney.
Yeh, well this sort of forum is a dying breed.....
That Diomande information makes sense - thanks.
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If had to be pinned down, midfield would be my guess. Herdman kept talking about how the CB's in camp included who we played on Saturday. Can't afford an upgrade at striker. Midfield is a noted issue (not just by us on here).