The weather was nice. There were a lot of entertaining flair plays by TFC. I quite enjoyed the game until Mtl scored.
I think that Nelsen tried to put out just a good enough team not to be embarassed, but does not value this competition and would actually prefer not to have to play in the CCL.
Why should he? It's clear that 95% of the fans only consider MLS success to count. Call it ignorance if you will, but that's how it is.
It's so easy to say "it doesn't matter, you have to go for it", but the combination of the importance of Defoe and Bradley, and the fact that this year neither got an offseason, makes this an uncomfortable topic this year.
What should we want?
How much more likely is it that Defoe and/or Bradley will sustain a serious injury if we are playing twice a week in the heat of July and August? If they can only play once a week, which games do you hold them out of....?
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
You are very clear on this, but it isn't a valid argument. There is a new owner, new president, new GM, new front office staff, new roster, no hint of locker room dissent ( did you see Morgan, who rarely plays, put his arm around O'Leary after the game? Or hear Henry say "the Manager plays you if you work hard in practice"?) Judge Nelsen on tactics, Liewike on DP's, Bez on other acquisitions but treating them as an extension of Mo isn't accurate or real. It's as entirely new an organization as you realistically could have. Move on!
Originally Posted by ExiledRed
Yes. Not playing Defoe was the correct decision. His minutes have to be managed, even if he was younger they would have to be. The world cup break will actually help in his case.
Why should it matter if Defoe is out?
There are multiple posts listing all the players brought in during the offseason and I am pretty sure that there was much rejoicing about all these upgrades.
More work still to be done?... say it ain't so.
I will say that the we didn't win because we didn't want to excuse is a refreshing new one.
You mean younger... Like Gilberto ?
We had a couple of flashes in the first half, but it wasn't a fun game to watch.
I would like a fun game to watch, please.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
No, I mean because he has had a full EPL season and his body needs a break now.
As stated by many OP I don't think they want to win this tournament... We don't have depth to compete in this tournament and in the league. The league is the priority and they are willing to sacrifice this for it. I am fine with that, because when we make the playoffs this year we have another full offseason to build depth and have a legitime bench to compete in both the league and champions league. Plus teh salary cap will be raised to do the new CBA and then we can be the first MLS team to win champions league
next transfer window this team NEEEEDSSS to go after a pure AM..but again what did we expect in a game we have orr and hall in the midfield lol
Especially when you're coming into a World Cup break. LOL. Gotta rest up for vacation.
How much did this club bank from the QF vs LA at the Skydome? Or the SF vs Santos? How many fans who showed up to those, or simply caught the buzz, came to matches afterwards?
Considering how the draw went, why the fuck shouldn't MLSE want us there? They don't like money all of a sudden? Maybe this is merely about saving TL's ego to do every little thing possible to make the MLS playoffs?
Even if FAS is no pushover, those two don't need to play that team. We're talking about 2 matches vs NY. That's not much to ask for.
You can bet your ass they'll be trotted out to play fucking Tottenham though.
Last edited by ryan; 05-29-2014 at 09:05 AM.
I agree with you. Our management does not. They would say making the playoffs wins you a job. That's what the majority of fans want more than a weirdo trophy to play teams that aren't even from Europe of South America, like, man.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
Really? I quite enjoyed watching that game. Maybe it was the crowd? Other than about a 5 minute spell after Montreal scored, we looked pretty decent too. If one of DeRo's crossbars had gone a few inches below....
Those don't happen with Petrescu. I complained about that all night. Just like his last match here and his others league wide. He is always heavy on the whistle and totally destroys any flow to his matches.
Will do, OT. Will do.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
I agree. If TFC wins this tournament, it will be thanks to our reserves. If we move on to the CCL, our B team will play most of the matches. In this particular season, I'm ok with that approach.
We really need to focus on the league fixtures. We've had success in the CCL before while being a league doormat, and our club was still considered a unanimous failure.
The reffing was definitely not great.
Funny, I once shared a cab with Petrescu. I was on my way to play in a tournament in Kitchener, and he and I both were at the central bus station trying to flag a cab to get to the pitch. We were both wearing football warm up stuff, and carrying big bags so we realized we were going to the same place and shared the cab. Didn't realize who he was until about half way there. That was probably about 5 years ago. Didn't like having him as a ref either.
Winning is a habit. Unless he's not 100%, resting Defoe was ridiculous. He hardly played in the winter and he can't play more than one game a week ? Joke.
If only Caldwell could accidentally get his hands on that [brilliant] Mapp kick, we would need no excuse. :-)
BTW, as unprofessional game from TO as it gets, in all aspects.
whats the point of playing defoe when we have no midfield to get him the ball.it looked like both coaches are trying to save there job last night.
The point of playing Defoe is for him to score goals so we can win games. I was one of the mugs who paid good money to watch last night and I feel cheated.
ORR has done great in the midfield. Did you not watch the NY game?. DE RO needed to start at AM , he does not have pace to be up top. The first half alone he couldn't get on 3 or 4 nice through balls.
If we had gone onto win in mexico instead of collapse things could be very different.
You do realize for it to be unanimous it needs to be agreed upon by everyone? It's clearly not by some of the attitudes about CCL priority being displayed in here. I had no issue with doing better in the CCL than the league.
FORMER FULL TIME KOOL-AID DRINKER
AMs don't have much place in a flat 4-4-2. Unless Nelsen suddenly sees the light and goes with another formation, I wouldn't expect to see an AM arrive in the next transfer window.
But I don't think that Nelsen doesn't take the CCL seriously. I think he is trying to manage the man-minutes over the next two weeks so he can grind out results in both MLS and CCL. TFC tied the 1st leg without their top team and are in a good place going into the next leg. If Nelsen sits his best players next Wednesday, then I'll know he doesn't take it seriously. I think we'll see Defoe and Moore start against Columbus, but they will platoon on Wednesday with Gilberto playing the other striker. Bekker and Warner will probably start on Saturday and sub on Wednesday, and Osorio will play in Montreal if he's available.
I'm well aware of the definition of unanimous. I was referring to the perception of our previous clubs.
Are you suggesting that some supporters considered any of our previous clubs a success?
Maybe. But we started that season 0-9 in MLS. We went on to win the ACC again that season during our MLS record losing streak, and most supporters acknowledged what a joke it was at the time.
Doneils goal was a SOLID header, and that saved his game.
I can't stress how much he needs to work on his distribution out the back. I don't have the opta stats, but I counted 8x in the first half that he kicked the ball either out of bounds or to the impact...and that was under no pressure. For me Hagglund is still the starting CB alongside Caldwell.
I feel sorry for Gilberto because he's definitely affected by the hoof ball where he just chasing down everything, and I'm sure he's not used to that where as Defoe is.
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