https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg7NUCNQnQQ
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Have At It People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg7NUCNQnQQ
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Have At It People
Question is are we still playing for the shield or are we resting and getting healthy for the playoffs? Philly controls their own destiny with 3 to go.
I would be significantly reducing playing time over the last 3 games for all of our key players such as Poz, Osorio, Delgado, Piatti, Akinola, Omar, Laryea, Mavinga and Auro. Unless these guys are healthy and playing I don't believe we have a shot at MLS Cup. Home field advantage is less important this year since there are no fans and no games at BMO.
This will also allow Vanney to assess some of the young guys as well as those on the bubble.
Homefield is huge, even in Hartford, means they would not face travel during these Covid times, especially if it was into some of the hot spots.Quote:
Originally Posted by NK Toronto
I agree, plus avoiding plastic turf, with all the injuries we already have.Quote:
Originally Posted by Red CB Toronto
We melt down in the next 3 games & get caught by Orlando, do any of you REALLY want to see our team go down into that Covid cesspool, to play in front of fans, all for the sake of some rest?
We need to keep pushing for the Shield. We should be able to compete with a full squad these next two games. Not having to travel should help with recovery.
Hopefully then we are in a better position going into that final game to rest players before the playoff run.
Keep in mind we have 5 subs each game. Sure yeah a bit of squad rotation both tomorrow and Sunday, but no need to completely flip the starting 11 around.
Rotate 4-5 if it makes sense, otherwise steady as she goes.
Delgado and Osorio....you don't realize how much contribution to the midfield they provide until they are not there. They also make up for Bradley's lack of speed when all playing together. Can't wait until Oso is back and hopefully Marky is recovered soon too. You could tell Delgado was burnt out a bit and a little injured but playing through it the last couple games because he was not his usual self. If we can't get the midfield strong again I think this will be a short playoff run.
We also need at least Akinola to stay healthy since we can't count on Altidore. Mullins running at defenders just doesn't strike the same fear into teams as a healthy Akinola or Altidore would. Without that danger up top teams can focus on putting more pressure on Poz and Piatti.
CB's....we need Mavinga back as soon as possible but if our offensive pressure is good on teams it should take some heat off our CB situation. Ciman did well recently although he still loves to slide too much and he is a red card waiting to happen as always.
The result against Philly was no surprise given our current situation and who we had on the field last weekend along with a bunch of those guys just not having a good game when they had the opportunity to play and make a case for themselves.
The good thing is our team seems to know how to grind out games and they always have a decent run then one game where they have a stinker so hopefully that was it and we get stronger again from here.
From the Match Preview on Torontofc.ca: "The club is hopeful to have Ayo Akinola and his eight goals this season back in the lineup against New York City. While Chris Mavinga, Eriq Zavaleta, Pablo Piatti and Jonathan Osorio are all questionable."
At least "questionable" is better than "Out"...
I would prioritize being healthy over home field.
Looking at the standings, Phily is the only team (and maybe Colombus) that can jump us. It’s almost certain we finish ahead of the West. The cost of not winning here is potentially one road game in the Northeast US.
I would try hard to win one of the remaining games and devote the rest of our time to being ready when playoffs arrive
I've been against this season from the very (re)start - but we've played it, we might as well go for the shield.
Looking at our schedule (NYCFC, Miami, Redbulls) vs Philly's (Columbus, NER, Chicago) I don't hate our chances.
Injury update...
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/MichaelSingh94/status/1321157049087107073?s=20
Having Piatti out for the rest of the regular season will hurt. Who's next in line to play the wing spots at this point...? Oso, Laryea, Nelson? Gallardo can't cut it, Endoh hasn't shown much.
I would use Laryea as a winger with Piatti out. Auro and Gallacher can play as fullbacks.
As a side note, what did everyone think of Marshall-Rutty last game? I thought he did alright and didn’t try to overplay things. Looked pretty sharp in that attempt on net too.
Still a tad gangly and awkward at his age but makes me excited what we’ll see next year.
I would be up for this for Laryea to be used in an attacking role. As far as fullbacks go though Morrow is back so I would say Morrow/Auro with Gallacher as backup.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeForbes
Auro is out for Wednesday as a result of the yellow card on Saturday.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeForbes
Morrow is also back now. In the past I think he's played on the right side a few times when required.
By that point, it was all one blur that didn't have enough alcohol.Quote:
Originally Posted by ag futbol
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Day before presser with Vanney - think he got a haircut
https://www.torontofc.ca/post/2020/1...?autoplay=true
Two problems with this team. 1. There are a lot of players who can't stay healthy. Jozy, Mavinga, Akinola, Morrow, Piatti are all injury prone. 2. We lack depth. i.e. Philadelphia. What's the point in home field advantage if we have to field a lineup like we did Saturday?
Reasons have been given in this thread and others. Regardless, its not going to happen. The only time this team gave up on going for a possible win was that one game against Houston & it was referenced as a serious mistake by all involved during the end of that 2018 season interviews & retrospectives.
The best team possible, in the eyes of the coaching staff, will be put forward tomorrow night to get the 3 points.
I am having difficulty trying to assess where this team is. When I saw the lineup vs. Phila I didn't expect a result, but I didn't expect a 5 nil loss either, which could have been worse if not for a few good saves by Q. We had gone through a good stretch there without a loss but looking at the team's play over the period we had a lot of good fortune on our side, winning games where we were outplayed (NYCFC), or where the other team missed a penalty (NER), or where we had a penalty overturned by VAR (CINCI). That was also the game Ciman almost scored an own goal from midfield. Based on our play in those games we probably deserved only 2 points rather than nine.
I really have no idea what to expect from this team going forward. They are a handicappers nightmare
Take a Deep Breath
Hold it
Let it Out slowly
Breathe normally
Look around
Be thankful for anything or anybody you have in your life
Consider smiling for a moment
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Its Game Day
Time to ride again
:scarf:
Yup. Try to win every game with the best team possible is the mentality. Win the last 3 hopefully and make Philly need a perfect schedule as well if they want the Shield.Quote:
Originally Posted by OgtheDim
I like Piatti, but if he doesn’t play another match this year and we take his option I will blow a gasket
Tonight should be a good test of whether last game was a temporary blip or luck running out.
🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
I agree, the only silver lining potentially in this is Piatti will be challenged in any league to find a better place for him. With the injury history and now this (I can’t believe it was a training issue), it potentially justifies trying to secure him as a Tam. I would do that in a heartbeat.Quote:
Originally Posted by portu
And then we try to find our next under 22 DP.
What is Piatti making, 1.5M, that's not too much of a hit to pick up. Think he is making the same as Victor was before he left for the middle east.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushmancan
The salary cap is also going up next year by about $600K (inclusive of increases to GAM). With that, we should hopefully be able to free up some TAM for Piatti, particularly if we can clear out or reduce some of the larger salaries for players like Ciman, Zavaleta, Mullins, and Gallardo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Red CB Toronto
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1 = TFC
2 = NYC
Interesting, we are considered underdogs by the bookmakers.
I was thinking we'll be small favourites, something like +130 - ish.
In these conditions I could not stop myself to put $60 on TFC at +0.25-132, because that looks too good to pass on. I don't think we lose again, though there's big chance for this to end in draw. Initially I wanted to go on with $100, but I was too chicken, lol...
When NYCFC coach asked about containing Pozuelo he seemed annoyed a bit to be asked. "Every time we play them we get this question. He is good but not that good. He is no Messi" Haha.
If things keep going the way they are at Barcalona, Pozuelo will probably be playing with Messi at Barca in January. Haha.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Kool
Don’t forget this is the team that pressed us very similar to what Philly did. Need to break their press right away... we changed all that when we had Laryea as the LW so they couldn’t just focus on one side of Auro, Piatti and Poz.
Depending on who is out, this could be ugly. In addition to the injuries, I believe Auro is out due to yellow card accumulation. Hopefully we see Morrow and Laryea start (and Mavinga). Then we may eek out a chance. Without Mavinga, every game feels 50:50 to me!
IF all those questionables are out - 3-1 loss.
The starting lineup is... Not promising.
Bye Bye Shield - could basically be done tonight with a loss and a Philly win. Just not a good enough lineup to score goals unless given some penalties, or a wonder strike; no Mavinga starting on the back end doesn’t breed confidence either....sad way to end a great regular season....
its seems ayo has become jozy...if they get a good offer for him move him this off season.
Let’s not jump to conclusions, he’s a ways off being Jozy. And let’s consider the number of back-to-backs we played this year with little squad rotation might have pushed a few of these guys over the edge.Quote:
Originally Posted by reggie