TFC hires Greg Vanney as Assistant GM and Director of Academy (Rongen out)

[cwell]

It seemed as though academy teams were performing well at tournaments, including against other MLS academies. So I give Rogen and the coaches credit for that.

I suspect that this move is largely related to personal style and generational differences. Maybe Rogen just didn't fit in a working relationship with Tbez and Nelsen, not to mention TL. If so, then I agree a move was a good idea. And I expect that Rogen would agree. He's been around a long, long time, and would know how important it is that manager, coach and youth director are on the same page. Same as when he replaced Stuart Neely.

If that was the case, then it is for the best that he is moved. But when he was hired two years ago this should had been something the club knew about when they were hired him. Things like this are not something that just happen out of the blue. I hope they have the correct person in charge now and he is given the time to build the proper development pathways.

[jabbronies]

It goes back to the organizational rot that happened. All the games played at TFC were in the boardroom, not on the pitch. You had divisions made and football knowledge or experience was not the most valued commodity. So you have a guy like Earl in there, brings in Thomas, Mariner hangs with them too....then Payne. Now we are seeing the dismantle going in reverse and this pretty much seals all of it. A lot of good football people got caught in the crossfire - like Bob De Klerk. Imagine having a guy like that - loads of youth development and experience from Ajax (a fabled development hotbed) running this outfit. We had him but obviously lacked the football awareness to properly use his talents.

Out of all the moves we've had in the management side - This is one of them that hurt the most. (Carver would be the other one)

If you actually spoke to De Klerk one-on-one you would see the amount of football knowledge this guy had. He knew the game and how to manipulate it.
he just wasn't a suit - which unfortunately was his downfall it seems.

[pdogg]

^

We've had some good people along the way, but often put into the wrong positions. Winter and DeKlerk were good for the organization, just not as the first team coaches. Unfortunately, its hard to stay on with a team afterwards when you're the head coach and the guy he hand picked to bring over.

Good organizations will try to hire smart people in all parts of the business and exploit their strengths. Could Winter have been a good Technical Director? Director of the Youth Academy? Who knows - he wasn't able to impart his vision on the team as their coach, it's unfortunate their wasn't somewhere else we could have tried him first and not let him fail (or get sabotaged, depending on your point of view).

[cmonyoureds]

Folks, first time poster long time fan, blah, blah etc.

But seriously I suggest you talk to some of the kids who went to the recent academy try outs. Free which was nice.

I talked to a U15 player. The tryouts were large group broken into games. From those games one group of 30 was selected which played another game. If someone heard of another format please provide info.

So in the tryout that I heard about no testing of skills. Watch some of the Nike Academy videos on Youtube to see how to cast a wide net and find raw talent. Yes it would be difficult to filter through all the kids but once a year do something to really try and find the hidden talent.

Toronto has more than enough kids (I'm coaching youth level) to develop some fanastic talent. There are tons of factors affecting that development.

Maybe TFC is starting to rethink how the recruitment process works not just the coaching side.

Regarding the director's overall role its more the club direction, think AJAX or Bayern. You think that if they changed technical directors the club would start producing different players?

I just want to bump this post. Seriously. First hand experience. Read it again. If you don't think this needed changing, then heaven help us.

[TFC07]

TFC, well, previous regime, has invested a lot of time and money into Dichio's coaching career. He's taking a coaching course with French FA, a rare chance for a North American coach. Be shame to throw away that sort of investment.

It doesn't matter in the end if results aren't good. TFC has all resources in the world to get the best coaches to teach kids how to play and develop them. We need better and experience people running academy. Dichio and along with rest of academy coaches aren't simply good enough and we can't afford to wait for them to develop as coaches.

[Leedsoronto]

Like the better most experienced first team manager u mean? :@)

[Abou Sky]

It goes back to the organizational rot that happened. All the games played at TFC were in the boardroom, not on the pitch. You had divisions made and football knowledge or experience was not the most valued commodity. So you have a guy like Earl in there, brings in Thomas, Mariner hangs with them too....then Payne. Now we are seeing the dismantle going in reverse and this pretty much seals all of it. A lot of good football people got caught in the crossfire - like Bob De Klerk. Imagine having a guy like that - loads of youth development and experience from Ajax (a fabled development hotbed) running this outfit. We had him but obviously lacked the football awareness to properly use his talents.

I really just hope that once the dust finally settles, players, coaches, cooks, ball boys etc don't feel like they need to watch their backs all the time.

Toxic environment breeds poor play and from what I understand, the environment was incredibly toxic.

[denime]

Folks, first time poster long time fan, blah, blah etc.

But seriously I suggest you talk to some of the kids who went to the recent academy try outs. Free which was nice.

I talked to a U15 player. The tryouts were large group broken into games. From those games one group of 30 was selected which played another game. If someone heard of another format please provide info.

So in the tryout that I heard about no testing of skills. Watch some of the Nike Academy videos on Youtube to see how to cast a wide net and find raw talent. Yes it would be difficult to filter through all the kids but once a year do something to really try and find the hidden talent.

Toronto has more than enough kids (I'm coaching youth level) to develop some fanastic talent. There are tons of factors affecting that development.

Maybe TFC is starting to rethink how the recruitment process works not just the coaching side.

Regarding the director's overall role its more the club direction, think AJAX or Bayern. You think that if they changed technical directors the club would start producing different players?

Open tryouts are nothing else then PR,they are not trying to find out new talent ,but new data for marketing.All TFC wanted from Open tryouts are email addresses so they can advertize they winter/spring/summer camps.

Last year from 1000 boys they picked one, U14 goalie who was just recently cut from the team to make spot for an older goalie who is not good enough for his age,whose father is 1st team goalie coach.There is a lots of politics in academy,and new TD wont change anything,this is not USA, this is Ontario,this is the province where OSA has no control over their own clubs and leagues,this is the place where who you know will get you in,if your kid belonged to REP club were one of the coaches worked before,you have a chance.For any new player U14 and older to break into academy team,that player must be outstanding and by far much better than the rest,most of the boys that caliber always choose Europe over TFC and who can blame them.

Academy parents received email about this change 2-3 days ago and were told they will find out next year how academy will roll, since academy is off until mid January,will club shuffle coaches once again,parents from really talented players are getting fed up with this circus and I would not be surprised if TFCA loses some of them due the constant change and zero consistency on all levels.

Soccer development is not exact science and there always will be good talented boys who will be lost under the radar,that's normal, TFC can't take best 50 players of each age to train them,Toronto has more ppl then some countries(Uruguay or Bosnia both on WC2014) but only one club to develop all these talented boys.

I agree with you on academies being club direction.
Academies around the world have their programs setup that all teams from U9 to U19 playing training same system,regardless what 1st team plays,who the head coach or GM is,Ajax develops players same way for over 40 years now,Bayern does the same,not the mention Barca,consistency is the key for soccer development and until TFC honchos understand that,bringing new TD,GM/AGM and pressing reset button at all levels including academy will never get maximum from all those talented boys we have here in GTA.

Relationship between academy TD and 1st team coach can not be a reason for letting go academy TD,if it is, them we are fucked,Nelsen should have zero influence on academy ,his job is 1st and 2nd team,nothing more,he will be gone in a year or two and then what?new head coach will fire this guy because of different visions?

Lets hope that this new changes will bring TFCA and OSA with all their clubs at the same page.