What players would you keep and which players to let go

[gracos]

Since the Toronto FC MLS Season is all but over, what would you do with the current squad, barring new signings but the active roster. Here is what I would do:

Richard Eckersley Starting 11
Eric Hassli Starting 11
Milos Kocic Starting 11
Danny Koevermans Starting 11
Ashtone Morgan Starting 11
Darren O'Dea Starting 11
Luis Silva Starting 11


Adrian Cann Bench
Stefan Frei Bench
Torsten Frings Bench
Doneil Henry Bench
Ryan Johnson Bench
Reggie Lambe Bench
Aaron Maund Bench
Joao Plata Bench


Quincy Amarikwa Loan??
Oscar Cordon Loan??
Logan Emory Loan??
Nicholas Lindsay Loan??
Keith Makubuya Loan??
Quillan Roberts Loan??
Matt Stinson Loan??
Andrew Wiedeman Loan??


Eric Avila Release
Terry Dunfield Release
Jeremy Hall Release
Ty Harden Release
Dicoy Williams Release

[hodgkiss]

starters:
Richard Eckersley
Eric Hassli
Milos Kocic
Ashtone Morgan
Darren O'Dea
Luis Silva
Stefan Frei
Doneil Henry
Ryan Johnson

injured:
Danny Koevermans

bench:
Reggie Lambe
Quincy Amarikwa
Eric Avila

reserve team:
Dicoy Williams
Aaron Maund
Oscar Cordon
Nicholas Lindsay
Keith Makubuya
Matt Stinson
Quillan Roberts

last chance:
Joao Plata

year or two years left at best:
Terry Dunfield
Torsten Frings

release:
Ty Harden
Jeremy Hall
Andrew Wiedeman
Logan Emory
Adrian Cann



with what we have at the moment:

-------------------------kocic-----------------------------
------------------henry----------odea--------------------
---eckersley-----------------------------------morgan---
--------------------frings-----dunfield--------------------
---------avila------------------------------silva-----------
------------------johnson----hassli------------------------

[Chevy]

Starters:

Torsten Frings


That is all.

[ArmenJBX]

I would keep:

Milos Kocic
Richard Eckersley
Darren O'Dea
Doneil Henry
Ashtone Morgan
Luis Silva
Ryan Johnson
Eric Hassli

That's all.

[ryan]

I would keep


Terry Dunfield


and in the offseason put him in a cryogenic chamber, then multiply him by 10 and start them for TFC.

Wouldn't need subs, Terry Dunfield doesn't get subbed!

/PaulMariner

[Soccerpro]

I would keep:

Milos Kocic
Richard Eckersley
Darren O'Dea
Doneil Henry
Ashtone Morgan
Luis Silva
Ryan Johnson
Eric Hassli

That's all.

This ^
Minus Eckersley - grossly overpaid. His contract is a team killer in a salary cap league like MLS.
Plus Koev is he actually showed up in shape.

It would be nice to dream of the front office signing some skilled Central or South American attacking players at good value like the rest of the league actually does.

[prizby]

Kocic is due for a pay raise and while he has made some brilliant saves this year, he has also had some absolute howlers.

Are we talking about players we'd keep or we also working with the cap?

Is Eckersley really worth $390,000? Sure I would like to keep him, but is he worth the cap hit for what he brings? Compare that to Zack Lloyd at $118,600 or Andrew Hainault at $163,125 or Chance Myers at $101,666.67 or Sheanon Williams at $90,500 or Tony Beltran at $160,500 or Steven Beitashour at $44,100 or YP Lee at $174,200

It is all about managing the cap.

At keeper, I'd keep Frei over Kocic (Kocic is due a pay day and there have been rumours of contract issues); If Freddy Hall is here under $60-65k, I'd be fine with him as a backup and Q obviously needs to be loaned out and get some first team experience.

- Stefan Frei
- Freddy Hall (if the salary is right)
- Quillan Roberts

On defence, I'd keep Henry, O'Dea, Emory, Williams, and Morgan. I'd also sign Tyler Pasher from the academy and I would keep Eckersley at the right salary. Emory's best position by far is in the central of defence on the left side, which O'Dea will hold down for as long as he is here. If you watch the defence play, Emory might be the best central defender when the ball is at his feet in terms of controlling it and he is 1 of 2 defenders that I have seen consistently make the 15-20 yard pass on the ground without many issues. Mariner has to stop putting him at LB; he looks uncomfortable there and doesn't have the pace to play with the quick MLS wingers. Williams is a strong ball winner and can be good in the air. Both Emory and Williams make suitable backups who you don't mind having in for a game here and there and as long as their roles are defined, I think they are happy. Cann, Hall, and Harden eat too much salary. I think Henry would benefit from a year long loan in the NASL if he was guaranteed starter minutes. I'd consider keeping Hall because he can play multiple positions (which is important for your depth players), but again the cap hit has to be right.

- Darren O'Dea
- Ashtone Morgan
- Doneil Henry
- Logan Emory
- Dicoy Williams
- Richard Eckersley (if the salary is right)
- Tyler Pasher (signed from the academy)

In the midfield and forward, it really depends on what type of shape we are going to play...ima have to think about this a bit more. I'd keep Lambe-he fits well into the cap; I'd keep Maund and loan him out because I am starting to see the similarities between him and Jeff Laurenowitz; see how he does at the NASL/USL level with some playing time. I'd keep Silva because he is a stud and fits well into the cap; other good cap fits include Dunfield, Plata (could stay only if Mariner isnt here i'm venturing a guess), Lindsay (needs a loan), Stinson (needs a loan), Cordon (needs a loan), Makubuya (needs a loan). Think Cordon and Makubuya could be on their way out; can't find a place in the team and because of this, no idea how they are progressing; not sure what happens to Lindsay; Stinson might be a solid depth player, he needs the weight room to get up to MLS strength standards. weedman goes if he is no longer GA cuz his option will be outrageous and amarikwa can stay at his salary, versatility, and athletism...Ryan Johnson i think is a keeper just because he is fit, versatile and his cap hit isn't anywhere as outrageous as chad barrett's...finally our 3 DPs; i look at a team like SKC with 0 DPs and wonder is better to build the team with strong depth

[jloome]

AS starters, I'd keep:
Kocic
Eckersley
O'Dea
Morgan
Silva
Lambe
Koevermans
Hassli

Keep, for depth/dev
Harden
Henry
Emory
Amarikwa
Maund
Dunfield (he's a decent anchor man, but not good enough to be a starting two-way mid, as now)

Release/trade:



Release or trade:
Johnson (although perhaps in the hole, behind the striker? He's not a mid, that's for sure)-
Cann -
Avila
Frings - I think maybe he'll retire after this season
Williams - Big contract, not blowing me away
Wiedeman - Some potential, but nothing special
Stinson - Ditto
Jeremy Hall - Just a weak player all around, so far. Very poor defensively

That should free us up enough to sign a left winger, a central defender, a central mid to go alongside Silva, and a few utility players. Makubya can understudy to the twin towers up front, and we can play a pressure 4-4-2, with two central two-way distributors, two high wide midfielders and the enormous Hassli/Koevermans pairing up front.

Lambe can cause real problems wide right, but disappears on the left. We need a natural left winger who can play some defense too, but for the most part, we'd play through the wings and have the central midfielders alternate playing high based on the side of the pitch carrying the play, or if we sign a defensive midfield specialist, play the mid as a diamond with silva high behind the strikers. THese options play to our strengths.

-------------Kocic-----------------
Eckersley--NEWGUY--O'Dea----Morgan
----------NEWGUYDM--------------
-LAMBE-------------------NEWGUYMID
------------Silva------------------
-------Hassli----Koevermans-------------

Get the right four guys in those spots, and that's a pretty competitive first team. Important to see if Makubya has enough at 19 to be an understudy, come in late in games, get some playing time. He has real potential, size, strength.

[ensco]

Frings - I think maybe he'll retire after this season

This seems to be some sort of consensus. I wish it were true. I seriously doubt it.

If there is one thing I have learned in watching sports, it is that older stars on meaningful contracts NEVER retire early, no matter how badly they play or how grim the situation. They only exception to this that I can think of is Markus Naslund with the Rangers.

Did anyone else notice how quickly Koevs committed to going hard to be ready for 2013 after he was injured (it was basically the day the injury was diagnosed). Sure, he's that kind of guy, but I think he was sending a message there, about HIS intention to honour that contract.

[Yohan]

AS starters, I'd keep:
Kocic
Eckersley
O'Dea
Morgan
Silva
Lambe
Koevermans
Hassli

Keep, for depth/dev
Harden
Henry
Emory
Amarikwa
Maund
Dunfield (he's a decent anchor man, but not good enough to be a starting two-way mid, as now)

Release/trade:



Release or trade:
Johnson (although perhaps in the hole, behind the striker? He's not a mid, that's for sure)-
Cann -
Avila
Frings - I think maybe he'll retire after this season
Williams - Big contract, not blowing me away
Wiedeman - Some potential, but nothing special
Stinson - Ditto
Jeremy Hall - Just a weak player all around, so far. Very poor defensively

That should free us up enough to sign a left winger, a central defender, a central mid to go alongside Silva, and a few utility players. Makubya can understudy to the twin towers up front, and we can play a pressure 4-4-2, with two central two-way distributors, two high wide midfielders and the enormous Hassli/Koevermans pairing up front.

Lambe can cause real problems wide right, but disappears on the left. We need a natural left winger who can play some defense too, but for the most part, we'd play through the wings and have the central midfielders alternate playing high based on the side of the pitch carrying the play, or if we sign a defensive midfield specialist, play the mid as a diamond with silva high behind the strikers. THese options play to our strengths.

-------------Kocic-----------------
Eckersley--NEWGUY--O'Dea----Morgan
----------NEWGUYDM--------------
-LAMBE-------------------NEWGUYMID
------------Silva------------------
-------Hassli----Koevermans-------------

Get the right four guys in those spots, and that's a pretty competitive first team. Important to see if Makubya has enough at 19 to be an understudy, come in late in games, get some playing time. He has real potential, size, strength.

Thanks for doing what I was about to post lol.

I'd keep Avila, if Mariner is going to play him in his proper position which is AM, not wing. It's too bad that Avila is so one dimensional, because he's got the technical tools.
I'd also drop Harden. His usefulness is done, esp at his salary.

[prizby]

Williams - Big contract, not blowing me away

$52,500 is a big contract??? huh?...yet you'd keep Harden who is making about $46k more?

[prizby]

I'd keep Avila, if Mariner is going to play him in his proper position which is AM, not wing. It's too bad that Avila is so one dimensional, because he's got the technical tools.

you'd keep Avila at almost $160k? (about 5.7% of the total cap?)

[Yohan]

you'd keep Avila at almost $160k? (about 5.7% of the total cap?)

has too much of an upside as AM to give up on. not his fault that Mariner won't play him at his proper position

[prizby]

has too much of an upside as AM to give up on. not his fault that Mariner won't play him at his proper position

apparently he's in a contract dispute with the club...what would you pay him?

[Ultra & Proud]

apparently he's in a contract dispute with the club...what would you pay him?

Plus he got minutes at AM with Winter and didn't impress then either. I wouldn't pay that $160k for him much less what he thinks he's worth. To me he's a $60-80k player.

[jloome]

$52,500 is a big contract??? huh?...yet you'd keep Harden who is making about $46k more?

Hmmm... thought he was on $199,000 for some reason.

Either way, I'd take Harden six ways to Sunday over Dicoy Williams. Harden's problems are speed and footwork, but his positioning and work rate are quite good. He's a decent backup, especially if O'Dea's directing traffic.

I've seen nothing from Williams yet save being caught out of position a half dozen times in his one start.

[[NBF]]

This is my list with the limit of 8 international players on the team. IDK the numbers for my team but Im sure my first team comes in under budget. The backups afterward are where TFC is hurting because it cant draft any players to fill the remaining roles available and the academy players usually get tossed to the curve.

I'm pretty sure there is a limit for how long a player can remain a developmental player that doesnt count against the cap. So the players from the academy that have signed contracts might be affected, but I would still include them on my list.

-----------------------------Kocic--------------------------
--------------------------*American-------------------------
---------------------------Q.Roberts------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eckersley----*International---------O'Dea---------Morgan
Henry------------Maund--------------Emory--------*American
---------------*Academy-----------*Academy--------T.Pasher
-------------------------------------------------------------
--------------*International--------------------------------
-----------------Stinson-------------------------------------
Lambe-------------------------------Silva------------------
*American-------------------------*American--------Johnson
O.Cordon---------------------------S.Camargo------*American
-----------------Hassli-----------------------------N.Lindsay
--------------*American-----------Koevermans-------------
--------------K.Makubuya----------*American----------------
------------------------------------*Academy----------------

Supposedly On TFC "Burn" List:

- Eric Avila: Only because he's the next TFC player to resurface on a winning team.
- Joao Plata: He's too much of a midget I guess. He should sue.lol.

"Not Needed" List:

- Ty Harden
- Terry Dunfield
- Torsten Frings
- Quincy Amerikwa
- Andrew Wiedeman
- Adrian Cann

"Trade Bait" List:

- Eric Avila
- Jeremy Hall
- Stefan Frei

International Players (That Cant Crack The First Team Even If Given Time)To Cut From Roster:

- Dicoy Williams
- Freddy Hall

[prizby]

This is my list with the limit of 8 international players on the team. IDK the numbers for my team but Im sure my first team comes in under budget. The backups afterward are where TFC is hurting because it cant draft any players to fill the remaining roles available and the academy players usually get tossed to the curve.

I'm pretty sure there is a limit for how long a player can remain a developmental player that doesnt count against the cap. So the players from the academy that have signed contracts might be affected, but I would still include them on my list.

-----------------------------Kocic--------------------------
--------------------------*American-------------------------
---------------------------Q.Roberts------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eckersley----*International---------O'Dea---------Morgan
Henry------------Maund--------------Emory--------*American
---------------*Academy-----------*Academy--------T.Pasher
-------------------------------------------------------------
--------------*International--------------------------------
-----------------Stinson-------------------------------------
Lambe-------------------------------Silva------------------
*American-------------------------*American--------Johnson
O.Cordon---------------------------S.Camargo------*American
-----------------Hassli-----------------------------N.Lindsay
--------------*American-----------Koevermans-------------
--------------K.Makubuya----------*American----------------
------------------------------------*Academy----------------

Supposedly On TFC "Burn" List:

- Eric Avila: Only because he's the next TFC player to resurface on a winning team.
- Joao Plata: He's too much of a midget I guess. He should sue.lol.

"Not Needed" List:

- Ty Harden
- Terry Dunfield
- Torsten Frings
- Quincy Amerikwa
- Andrew Wiedeman
- Adrian Cann

"Trade Bait" List:

- Eric Avila
- Jeremy Hall
- Stefan Frei

International Players (That Cant Crack The First Team Even If Given Time)To Cut From Roster:

- Dicoy Williams
- Freddy Hall

There are a lot of flaws to your list here.

- Aaron Maund is not a defender...he is a holding mid; Mariner is working him as a project much like Jeff Laurenowitz when he was in New England.
- Doneil Henry is not a right back
- I don't think we need a 3rd left back
- Having watched the academy a few times this year, there isn't one centre back ready to make the jump to MLS soccer (let alone two like you have)
- Freddy Hall doesn't count as an international (95% sure)...he lived in the States from 2000 to 2009 and I am pretty sure he has a green card.
- Oscar Cordon is not a winger
- Keith Makubuya is not a natural striker/2nd striker
- Kocic should be on that 'burn' list - he's having contract issues right now, much like Avila
- Frings will be back unless he decides to retire
- Hassli might not be back unless he takes less than DP money
- Plata stays only if he and Mariner become best buds or Mariner is gone
- Amarikwa stays if Mariner stays; he plays multiple positions and comes in on the cheap

[Fort York Redcoat]

There are a lot of flaws to your list here.

- Keith Makubuya is not a natural striker/2nd striker

All but this I agree with. Where is he naturally? He's been listed as a Striker for years.

[prizby]

All but this I agree with. Where is he naturally? He's been listed as a Striker for years.

LW/RW...thats where he was signed to play when Winter signed and the he replaced Soolsma in the first game of the season at that position; where i saw him playing with the academy too

[Fort York Redcoat]

LW/RW...thats where he was signed to play when Winter signed and the he replaced Soolsma in the first game of the season at that position; where i saw him playing with the academy too

Cool thnx

[[NBF]]

There are a lot of flaws to your list here.

- Aaron Maund is not a defender...he is a holding mid; Mariner is working him as a project much like Jeff Laurenowitz when he was in New England.
- Doneil Henry is not a right back
- I don't think we need a 3rd left back
- Having watched the academy a few times this year, there isn't one centre back ready to make the jump to MLS soccer (let alone two like you have)
- Freddy Hall doesn't count as an international (95% sure)...he lived in the States from 2000 to 2009 and I am pretty sure he has a green card.
- Oscar Cordon is not a winger
- Keith Makubuya is not a natural striker/2nd striker
- Kocic should be on that 'burn' list - he's having contract issues right now, much like Avila
- Frings will be back unless he decides to retire
- Hassli might not be back unless he takes less than DP money
- Plata stays only if he and Mariner become best buds or Mariner is gone
- Amarikwa stays if Mariner stays; he plays multiple positions and comes in on the cheap

Doneil Henry- Is not a right back but has played there for more than a handful of games. I might even question if Mariner might try and trade or transfer Eckersley and give the right back job to Henry.

Tyler Pasher- I believe you can sign up to 20 players who would count against the cap and the limit on the roster is 30, with the last 10 spots given to players that would be reserve players or developmental players. IDK, the exact title for that contract.

Kocic- IMO is alot better than Stefan Frei. Frei, is out of shape I thought at the beginning of the season. Even more so now with the injury.

Hassli- I saw on Fox Soccer News/Soccer Central, that Thomas Rongen thought Hassli and Koevermans would make a great pairing for next season. He said it very enthusiastically so I think he was being serious.

BTW, was my first team under the cap?

[jloome]

LW/RW...thats where he was signed to play when Winter signed and the he replaced Soolsma in the first game of the season at that position; where i saw him playing with the academy too

He might well have been, but he's played as a striker regularly for the last four years. And since he sprouted since he joined the academy, they see him more as a striker, for sure.

I'd also say that while Cordon isn't a Winger, he has the skill set. He'd be better in the hole as he has major distribution talents and can burn guys, but I'm not sure MLS coaches understand the concept of playing small players inside.

And you're bang on about Amerikwa. Bargain at his price.