Today's News,Sunday,July 29

[denime]

Mornin'




TFC TV




Toronto Stopped By Houston


Dynamo expose TFC defence


Dynamo shut out Toronto FC


Hassli aims for fresh start with Toronto FC


Toronto FC fall to Houston Dynamo 2-0 at BMO Field


Toronto FC streak ends, Impact beat Red Bulls


Canada beats South Africa in women's soccer


Houston snaps TFC's record winning-streak





TFC Related Blogs !!





SUNSHINE

[Pookie]

Two surprising things from that Larson article.

1. Attendance was 19,652. Yeah, ok.

2. Mariner expects Koevermans to play in 2013 and that Hassli is not his replacement.

This means that either:

A) Hassli's contract will not be picked up in 2013, making the price of giving up a first round pick for a rental in a dismal season one of the dumbest moves ever

OR

b) his contract will be picked up and we will go into next season with 2 DPs at striker. Barring a Frings retirement/buy out, there is no room for a DP Centreback.

[TorCanSoc]

^ Yeah, rental DP for a what? A push to get out of last place into third last. Has to be for the CCL. Its our only hope to salvage the year, MLS is done... has been done since the 0-9 start. If we go as far as we did in the CCL last year it something to cheer about. Overall it would be another "marginal pass" for the year.

Flame out of the CCL, and who knows what this team/FO/fans/SSH will do.

[Pookie]

^ Yeah, rental DP for a what? A push to get out of last place into third last. Has to be for the CCL. Its our only hope to salvage the year, MLS is done... has been done since the 0-9 start. If we go as far as we did in the CCL last year it something to cheer about. Overall it would be another "marginal pass" for the year.

Flame out of the CCL, and who knows what this team/FO/fans/SSH will do.

Not many know that the CCL format changed this year. It's a long shot for us to get out of it.

TFC is in a 3 team pool with Aguila and Santos. Only the top team in that pool moves on. Obviously, with Santos in the pool, the odds are heavily stacked against us and the idea of a "flame out" is a very real possibility.

[narduch]

Not many know that the CCL format changed this year. It's a long shot for us to get out of it.

TFC is in a 3 team pool with Aguila and Santos. Only the top team in that pool moves on. Obviously, with Santos in the pool, the odds are heavily stacked against us and the idea of a "flame out" is a very real possibility.

I have a feeling TFC will be in the hunt right up until the last match day, where Santos will once again slaughter TFC at home.

[Chevy]

Not many know that the CCL format changed this year. It's a long shot for us to get out of it.

TFC is in a 3 team pool with Aguila and Santos. Only the top team in that pool moves on. Obviously, with Santos in the pool, the odds are heavily stacked against us and the idea of a "flame out" is a very real possibility.

Yes, very tough this year to advance. Essentially we need to get a result in Mexico - no small feat.

Also - wouldn't Hassli be cup-tied as he played for Vancouver in the tournament? Isn't the CCL considered part of the overall competition?

[narduch]

Yes, very tough this year to advance. Essentially we need to get a result in Mexico - no small feat.

Also - wouldn't Hassli be cup-tied as he played for Vancouver in the tournament? Isn't the CCL considered part of the overall competition?

He isn't cup tied.

[Pookie]

Yes, very tough this year to advance. Essentially we need to get a result in Mexico - no small feat.

Also - wouldn't Hassli be cup-tied as he played for Vancouver in the tournament? Isn't the CCL considered part of the overall competition?

As narduch stated, he isn't tied. Roster rules only kick in for the first phase which is the the Group stage. Rosters have to be set prior to starting that stage (7 days in advance I believe). So, like Danny K and Frings and all the new folks we brought in in July last year, Hassli is good to go

[ecospice]

Two surprising things from that Larson article.

1. Attendance was 19,652. Yeah, ok.

2. Mariner expects Koevermans to play in 2013 and that Hassli is not his replacement.

This means that either:

A) Hassli's contract will not be picked up in 2013, making the price of giving up a first round pick for a rental in a dismal season one of the dumbest moves ever

OR

b) his contract will be picked up and we will go into next season with 2 DPs at striker. Barring a Frings retirement/buy out, there is no room for a DP Centreback.

I like the idea of Hassli and Koef up front with Frings as either the DM or even sweeper. I don't think we need a DP CB.

[Shakes McQueen]

I also like the idea of Hassli and Koevermans up front, though I think a DP CB would have helped immensely (if it was the right player). However, I don't think a DP CB is an absolute necessity - I do think we can build a good backline without one.

Which isn't to say, based on the last six years, that I have any faith TFC know how to build a competent back four.

- Scott

[Pookie]

I also like the idea of Hassli and Koevermans up front, though I think a DP CB would have helped immensely (if it was the right player). However, I don't think a DP CB is an absolute necessity - I do think we can build a good backline without one.

Which isn't to say, based on the last six years, that I have any faith TFC know how to build a competent back four.

- Scott

I don't think he has to be a DP.

That said, I'm not sure how you get one if he isn't a DP.

The criteria, at least publicly, has been a fit, experienced veteran who can give wisdom to the back line.

To acquire a player like that you either have to:

- draft him (but by definition drafting won't get you a vet)
- trade for him (which is tough because team's don't give them up and of course 1/3 of our assets are Canadians and count as Internationals in the US)
- sign him and use one of the six available "Discovery Signings" on this player. Now considering these are for out of contract players and the International Calendar runs through our MLS offseason, this is a challenge. Not to mention the scouting resources we have.

DPs are likely one of the most viable options and usually are exercised over the summer. In bringing in Hassli now, TFC effectively closed the door on the DP conversation for this year and next summer.

[Fort York Redcoat]

Canada tix available. Pick 'em up while the national teams in the olympics and Canada is on the mind!

[ag futbol]

I don't think I'd take that statement from Mariner at face value. Doubt he'd just trot out and say "Well we know Danny is injured and his career is possibly over, so we'll most likely buy him out in the off-season."

That being said, if we plan on keeping both of them on the books, I don't like the trade as much as i initially did.

[moralis]

According to to Frankie Lalley - A sport journalist with the Irish Sun says Toronto FC is apparently signing Irish centre back Darren O'Dea.

https://twitter.com/FrankieLally/sta...14994579402752

https://twitter.com/FrankieLally

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_O%27Dea

[jabbronies]

Rode the bench at Celtic. Didn't really get a first team gig until last season with Leeds who ultimately didn't want him.
Would love to hear what some of the leeds fans on the board has to say about him.

[BHTC Mike]

Rode the bench at Celtic.

????

That's not the way I remember it. I remember a promising young centre back who struggled with injury* but showed the potential to mature into a very solid player. His career has gone a bit sideways since re-signing with Celtic and, to be honest, I'd lost track of him but, at 25, he's young enough to be someone we could build around. Hopefully, if the deal is true, it's not just a loan and he's not on stupid money that would make him hard to keep.** There's a lot more long term upside to him than a Nesta or Mellberg no matter how great they'd be in the short term.

And if we're deciding that TF-fucking-C is too good for 25 year old centre backs with SPL, Championship, and (limited) Champions League experience and, according to wiki, 14 caps for the Republic of Ireland I don't know what to think!

Very excited about the prospects of this happening if true.

Also, before the "British hoofball" comments start, it's worth noting that Celtic DON'T play that way historically (and don't raise players to play that way) AND that O'Dea was brought to Reading - a team that's also played good on the deck football for a while - by current silky possession football manager du jour Brendan Rogers.

*But the bit about injuries is from memory. I could be confusing him with some of Celtic's other defensive prospects from the time.

**Edit: Accordingt to Wiki he's out of contract. That would make sense because he'd have to be for us to sign him out of the MLS transfer window.

[Yohan]

????

That's not the way I remember it. I remember a promising young centre back who struggled with injury* but showed the potential to mature into a very solid player. His career has gone a bit sideways since re-signing with Celtic and, to be honest, I'd lost track of him but, at 25, he's young enough to be someone we could build around. Hopefully, if the deal is true, it's not just a loan and he's not on stupid money that would make him hard to keep.** There's a lot more long term upside to him than a Nesta or Mellberg no matter how great they'd be in the short term.

And if we're deciding that TF-fucking-C is too good for 25 year old centre backs with SPL, Championship, and (limited) Champions League experience and, according to wiki, 14 caps for the Republic of Ireland I don't know what to think!

Very excited about the prospects of this happening if true.

Also, before the "British hoofball" comments start, it's worth noting that Celtic DON'T play that way historically (and don't raise players to play that way) AND that O'Dea was brought to Reading - a team that's also played good on the deck football for a while - by current silky possession football manager du jour Brendan Rogers.

*But the bit about injuries is from memory. I could be confusing him with some of Celtic's other defensive prospects from the time.

**Edit: Accordingt to Wiki he's out of contract. That would make sense because he'd have to be for us to sign him out of the MLS transfer window.

My first thought is that I like O'Dea if the price is right, but you gotta wonder why someone with his pedigree is not picked up by any SPL/Championship/League One club

[denime]

????

That's not the way I remember it. I remember a promising young centre back who struggled with injury* but showed the potential to mature into a very solid player. His career has gone a bit sideways since re-signing with Celtic and, to be honest, I'd lost track of him but, at 25, he's young enough to be someone we could build around. Hopefully, if the deal is true, it's not just a loan and he's not on stupid money that would make him hard to keep.** There's a lot more long term upside to him than a Nesta or Mellberg no matter how great they'd be in the short term.

And if we're deciding that TF-fucking-C is too good for 25 year old centre backs with SPL, Championship, and (limited) Champions League experience and, according to wiki, 14 caps for the Republic of Ireland I don't know what to think!

Very excited about the prospects of this happening if true.

Also, before the "British hoofball" comments start, it's worth noting that Celtic DON'T play that way historically (and don't raise players to play that way) AND that O'Dea was brought to Reading - a team that's also played good on the deck football for a while - by current silky possession football manager du jour Brendan Rogers.

*But the bit about injuries is from memory. I could be confusing him with some of Celtic's other defensive prospects from the time.

**Edit: Accordingt to Wiki he's out of contract. That would make sense because he'd have to be for us to sign him out of the MLS transfer window.

Thanks for details,it sound to me that he would be exactly what we need right now,a solid under 30 years of age CB with enough experience to take the charge of our defense.

[BHTC Mike]

My first thought is that I like O'Dea if the price is right, but you gotta wonder why someone with his pedigree is not picked up by any SPL/Championship/League One club

I agree totally and that's why I'd be scared about what we'd be paying him. We've seen how much Eckersley cost! Either he's got baggage - again I haven't watched him play in a few years - or we could be overpaying. MLS really can't compete with Championship starter salaries for players outside the top 3-4 on each team.

Maybe, just maybe, he's ready to try something new though! We forget how the image of the league is improving among foreign pros who watch these things carefully. Maybe he sees the idea of playing in a "top flight" league with potential for growth more appealing than slogging it out in a (very wealthy but still) 2nd division again? I'd certainly suggest that MLS is a more appealing league to a player with international ambitions than the SPL and that's a league I watch a fair bit of. Could we be getting a secondary benefit of LA's Keane signing? That's his captain at international level...

We also forget that culturally there's really not a lot of other topflight leagues where an English speaker could go and not have to learn a new language outside the EPL. MLS has a whole bunch of strategic advantages when it comes to signing players like this that are often forgotten.

[Detroit_TFC]

Can't say I've ever heard of him, but having played at the Championship level, and being under 30, I am intrigued. With a backloaded contract, I'm sure we could afford him.

[ForestGlade]

Speaking of the CCL, anyone else notice that nobody is scheduled to broadcast the game?

[narduch]

Speaking of the CCL, anyone else notice that nobody is scheduled to broadcast the game?

Probably doesn't help that the Olympics are on.

I would assume Gol TV will be picking this up.

[TFC07]

Speaking of the CCL, anyone else notice that nobody is scheduled to broadcast the game?

Sportsnet usually picks up CCL games. Since game starts at 8pm, there shouldn't be any excuses for Sportsnet not to show CCL game on their channel.

[jabbronies]

????

That's not the way I remember it. I remember a promising young centre back who struggled with injury* but showed the potential to mature into a very solid player. His career has gone a bit sideways since re-signing with Celtic and, to be honest, I'd lost track of him but, at 25, he's young enough to be someone we could build around. Hopefully, if the deal is true, it's not just a loan and he's not on stupid money that would make him hard to keep.** There's a lot more long term upside to him than a Nesta or Mellberg no matter how great they'd be in the short term.

And if we're deciding that TF-fucking-C is too good for 25 year old centre backs with SPL, Championship, and (limited) Champions League experience and, according to wiki, 14 caps for the Republic of Ireland I don't know what to think!

Very excited about the prospects of this happening if true.

Also, before the "British hoofball" comments start, it's worth noting that Celtic DON'T play that way historically (and don't raise players to play that way) AND that O'Dea was brought to Reading - a team that's also played good on the deck football for a while - by current silky possession football manager du jour Brendan Rogers.

*But the bit about injuries is from memory. I could be confusing him with some of Celtic's other defensive prospects from the time.

**Edit: Accordingt to Wiki he's out of contract. That would make sense because he'd have to be for us to sign him out of the MLS transfer window.

You know better than I. I was just going by what I saw on Wikipedia. That's why I asked for any Leeds supporter to shed more light on the situation (assumed they would know more since he played more).

[Phil]

According to to Frankie Lalley - A sport journalist with the Irish Sun says Toronto FC is apparently signing Irish centre back Darren O'Dea.

https://twitter.com/FrankieLally/sta...14994579402752

https://twitter.com/FrankieLally


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_O%27Dea

Pretty sure I saw him post game coming out of gate 4.