Oso's earned the right to leave, yeah, but it shouldn't be a loan. If a club wants Oso we better get the max allocation dollars out of it.
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I certainly do remember a lot of people crabbing about Moor for the last 1/3 of the season of 2017, and I felt it was unwarranted - not that he wasn't as fast as the others (and really I felt it was more a reflection of Mavinga's maturation and us getting used to his speed) but I also believed his IQ was more valuable than the foot speed people were clamouring for.
I don't dispute that Moor as he came back looked slow. Morrow is the same - hasn't found his speed yet after his recovery. As a Senators fan I've been through this with Erik Karlsson already and I too am willing to wait to see if the full recovery of their performance - at least physiologically - will show up this coming spring.
The President of Tigres has ruled out a move for Jozy...
Check out this tweet at [COLOR=#14171A][FONT=&]https://twitter.com/naciontigres/status/1067474026287820800[/FONT][/COLOR]
"Nice to be linked to him. He tried to sign him 4 years ago but we are happy with the players we have right now"
Centre half isn’t a position that requires speed anyway. Unless you’re unable to do the thinking/positioning side of the game. We all know Moor can do the thinking.
Notes from conference call with Bez today as per multiple journos on Twitter:
- Planning to sign another goalkeeper after Irwin's departure
- Hope to re-sign Hamilton but a new contract needs to be negotiated
- Actively pursuing Auro and Janson (not clear exactly whether these would be transfers or extending their loans)
- From a cap perspective TFC is taking on "virtually nothing" after Aketxe's contract termination. Aketxe didn't want to return.
- Mentality and speed of play are reasons Bez cited for Aketxe not working out
- Team is in a good position salary cap-wise
- No timeline or immediate plans to extend any of the 3 DPs. All 3 will be back in 2019.
- Looking to add defenders, maybe a winger
- Bez has spoken to Zambrano but is not considering loaning Osorio
I laughed at that those responses.
Few bounces here or there and we would have won as well.
Seems like the notes are pretty much on track to our thoughts....Zavaleta being gone is now the key to the offseason for myself lol
I feel like I could cite these as reasons why our season didn’t work out. And I’d add Aketxe to our list of reasons.
we need to be careful about how we setup our back line for next year. Teams are going all-in for a high press or talking about setting up one.
Someone like Zavaleta who is indecisive on the ball and a slow passer is going to be under a lot of pressure. I like Moor and he’s no Zavaleta but relying on him as a starter sounds foolish. They need a first choice CB to stay next to Mavinga. He needs to be good on the ball, a leader, and defensively solid. I’d break the bank for Zimmerman, if i’m Being honest.
His comments on Aketxe remind me of Kantari, which was a bit of a similar situation. After he was a flop I remember Bez commenting that he struggled with the physicality of play in MLS and that was something he would keep in mind moving forward. Then he signed just about the complete opposite type of CB in Mavinga, who's been tremendous.
So I don't doubt Bez will learn from this as well. Or has learned, if you look at how quick Janson is with his decisions vs. Aketxe who was far too methodical for our team or even the league in general somewhat.
I am OK with vdW, Moor/Hagglund and Mavinga at CB. That is, healthy, an above average backline.
Issue is RB or RWB. I don't think Auro or vDW were the answer there.
To me Auro is depth and/or someone you rollout as a winger when you play 4-4-2.
Breakdowns on our right hand side were a big problem in 2018, and caused Bradley to get pulled out of position a lot.
I’m not. You still need a starting CB. You’re one injury away again from Hagglund starting. This was a massive massive problem last year. Yes I know injuries killed us, but you need account for some of that to happen again.
Auro is a winger in my book. I like him going forward, not coming back. He’s a below average defender.
Kloke's latest article posted on The Athletic today says Lucas Paes, the 20 year old Sao Paulo keeper we were linked to earlier for a loan move, was in Toronto but failed his physical and has returned to Brazil. Also hints at looking for some flexibility in attack:
Quote:
Bezbatchenko and Vanney’s pursuit of a winger who can give the team a more dominant offensive performance speaks to their desire to control games for long stretches. How TFC rely less on a speedy bench option up top and who they end up adding at forward will be one of the most pivotal decisions with regards to the short-term championship viability of this core.
It could lead to a shift away from Vanney’s preferred 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 diamond formations.
“I think that’s something Greg wants to explore,” said Bezbatchenko.
He added TFC is looking at how to hurt teams from wide areas so their midfield could operate a little “more freely.” That could only stand to benefit Victor Vazquez, whose creativity was sometimes stifled as opposition teams would set up heavy blocks through the middle against them.
Interesting thing about moving to a formation with proper wingers is that it means that Giovinco or Jozy either play out of position or we play with a two man central midfield, which means either Oso or Vazquez sits.
Also this is a team without any wingers, like you can't just pick up one winger and be like yeah we're set you need at least three for championship quality depth.
^I bet this discussion is one they are having every day over at TFC HQ.
I agree. But he is hardly our biggest disappointment is all I was saying. In fact, being brave enough to acquire Defoe set us on the path to acquire Gio. He was no Miata who left absolutely no legacy. Except one goal.
You don't have to make a full-time change in your formation for a winger to help. They can be an impact sub or a tactical alternative for some games. Of course, if you go to the "we play with wingers" style, then you need three.
[QUOTE=portu;1882923]Interesting thing about moving to a formation with proper wingers is that it means that Giovinco or Jozy either play out of position or we play with a two man central midfield, which means either Oso or Vazquez sits.
Also this is a team without any wingers, like you can't just pick up one winger and be like yeah we're set you need at least three for championship quality depth.[/QUOTEi]
It I s very interesting. I love Oso but I still cannot figure out how they use him and VV, that’s why I thought he was going out on loan as rumored. Maybe VV is going to become a limited minutes player?
Also, without doubt, we are two up front. Everything flows from playing Seba and Jozy In their best positions.
Free Raheem.
We did throw out a 4-3-3 with Morrow at LW in the last game of the season.
I think Vanney just wants another option he can go to. It instantly makes a lot of sense once either of Giovinco or Altidore aren't available because you no longer have the problem of trying to shoehorn all your best players into the formation. In fact I suspect our struggles with Altidore missing were a catalyst in wanting a different look... he is crucial to playing through the middle so it makes sense to try playing more from the wing without him.
I think either Oso is sold/loaned out, or Vazquez may be done. Suspect that's what the Juninho tryout (or whatever that was) is about
I think that's the point. A box to box guy is the right guy to put out there with Bradley and one of Oso/VV.
With Oso, the way he has evolved, and Vazquez, you have two AMs out there, which creates some awkward overlap. they are in each other’s way, and they leave too much ground for Bradley to cover, if there are breakdowns behind him
I don't think any of the core guys are leaving. They've stressed squad rotation and depth as the approach for next year and I think they're serious about it.
Need to find a younger Moor type who knows the league well.
The name I think of is Matt Hedges - Danged expensive but that's the sort of player in age and experience and ability we are talking about. Not going to be cheap.
Auro seems the most likely transfer fee / contract expectations wise. I see a lot of post about Janson needing to be bought, but the price would likely make him a DP. Not sure worth a DP. If can fit him in for a more reasonable cap hit than Aketxe (F- to Bez on that one he wont be allowed another) then maybe.
Well Bez is on record now saying they'd like to keep Janson around and also that all 3 DPs are returning, so obviously there is some way to make that happen. Extending Janson's loan as a TAM player (as opposed to purchasing Auro) seems most likely to me.
I think the key is going to be if they raise the amount of TAM or the salary cap in the off-season. If simplified the rules and simply raised the cap to 7-10 million and allowed the 3 DPs, I think that would start to get competitive.
It's not possible to get better players from within the league. It'll simply never happen given the rules on free agency or lack thereof. Even if you overcame that....
Let's imagine that Hedges wanted to leave. Great player. Why would he come to TFC? I think guys like him are naturally going to markets like Seattle, if they move. Or they will leave the league to get paid and then come back, like Bradley/Altidore (and Zimmerman it seems)
Bradley and Altidore, separately and together, are/were very unique situations. It never really made sense for marquee US players to come here, and I don't believe Bradley/Altidore have changed that equation.
Giovinco, Vazquez, vdW and Piatti type players are the way forward for Canadian teams. Later in career, but not retirement age. Looking to escape the pressure/ultras where they might otherwise go next. Maybe like the idea of Canada vs the USA in the current political climate (Ottawa at least that mitigates the higher tax rate)
Some CB players in this potential category....
Simon Kjaer at Sevilla (he is the dream, probably has better options than MLS, plus Sevilla are surprise leaders in La Liga so he ain’t moving in January, as had been rumoured)
Fazio at Roma (this guy would be a monster in MLS, very physical player, but he recently became a regular again, so may not be available)
Stefan Radu at Lazio (this guy may be a little too old, I haven't seen him recently, but he has been a stud for years)
The USMNT guy that needs a new home, a la Altidore in 2015, is Bobby Wood, the striker who has been kicking around the Bundesliga but hardly playing for three years. Anybody willing to pay a couple of million dollars a year for him can probably get him... but I wouldn’t. I'd pay Janson's transfer before I did that.
Good players moving does happen. Ciman happened last year. Granted not every team has an idiot like Crazy Joey meddling with on field operations but it can happen.
As to why Hedges would consider coming here that's simple; $$$.
He is getting paid nothing in Dallas and he is 28.