Building in the offseason

[parma]

What are our draft options...do we have Chivas pick for Bocanegra, does Chivas get a pick...? I think we have a couple of high picks...

[jloome]

What are our draft options...do we have Chivas pick for Bocanegra, does Chivas get a pick...? I think we have a couple of high picks...

We have four first rounders beginning with pick 3, I believe. Expansion teams get 1 and 2

[parma]

We have four first rounders beginning with pick 3, I believe. Expansion teams get 1 and 2

Thanks, hopefully we do a better job than a couple of year ago....Emery Welshman anybody...and please no more allocation money...

[Ivy]

Thanks, hopefully we do a better job than a couple of year ago....Emery Welshman anybody...and please no more allocation money...

DC United built a last to first squad by tossing around allocation - it has its values.

[Areathrasher]

I would have said Oscar Romero but it seems Corinthians have snapped him up for next season.

[jloome]

Yeah, his brother too.


http://ca.soccerway.com/players/johan-arango/89631/
Having a good first year in top division
http://ca.soccerway.com/players/fern...nandez/322121/
Having a somewhat sensational start to career in Paraguay

[OgtheDim]

Somebody needs to sit back while Bradley roams. A destroyer type would do nicely in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3.

[portu]

Somebody needs to sit back while Bradley roams. A destroyer type would do nicely in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3.

I'd love to see Atiba Hutchinson here.

[jloome]

Somebody needs to sit back while Bradley roams. A destroyer type would do nicely in a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3.

http://ca.soccerway.com/players/seba...ardona/175803/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebasti...%A9rez_Cardona

DM for the Colombian U20 team, still playing domestically. Laba part 2, potentially.

[ensco]

I think Creavalle is your DM, with Warner backing him up. Although maybe Creavalle is part of the solution at CB. He might be great there, I like his football sense, he is a leader out there.

We need a lot of new players, 5-6 by my count: an overhaul at CB, Caldwell isn't good enough, at least one of Hagglund or Henry need to improve a lot if they are going to be every day starters.

Same for wing play, we need real wingers, neither Jackson or Oduro are near good enough, plus we need a replacement for Defoe. May also need a replacement for Dero (although that may be Osorio, Oso also needs to take a step up if he wants to start every day). You want to see what elite MFs and forwards look like in this league, watch the Seattle-LA game tonight.

I am assuming Bradley and Gilberto return. Big assumption. I am on the fence about Gilberto. I could see him becoming a 20 goal scorer, and I could see him scoring 7 again. No way to know.

[flamehawk]

Seeing as we're throwing out players we want signed that will fit in the team, I think we should take a look at Lam Zhi Gin (biased as a Hong Konger). He went through the HSV academy and started quite a few games last year, but was sold to Furth in the summer. He plays primarily as a RB but has played on either wing too. Great technical skill, but is injury-prone. With a chance that Bloom won't be with us next year and our lack of technical ability on the wings, he might be a good fit. He hasn't started too much at Furth this year, so who knows, maybe a loan->buy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0oxPLZeZq8
http://www.transfermarkt.com/zhi-gin.../spieler/69396

[jloome]

I think Creavalle is your DM, with Warner backing him up. Although maybe Creavalle is part of the solution at CB. He might be great there, I like his football sense, he is a leader out there.
.

Huge potential and a great athlete, but not aware yet of how to play with urgency at the MLS level. He was caught in the last game holding the ball too long on a number of occasions

I think he has the potential to take that role, though, and has the same sort of overall potential as Geoff Cameron, if someone can get him to read the game more astutely and be prepared to get rid of the ball as soon as it comes in.

[ensco]

Huge potential and a great athlete, but not aware yet of how to play with urgency at the MLS level. He was caught in the last game holding the ball too long on a number of occasions

I think he has the potential to take that role, though, and has the same sort of overall potential as Geoff Cameron, if someone can get him to read the game more astutely and be prepared to get rid of the ball as soon as it comes in.

I just think he's playing with guys who don't know how to move without the ball. He will be a star.

[Initial B]

I was watching the SS-LAG halftime report and the question was raised: What should Toronto FC do next? The analysts honestly seemed to be at a loss for a solution. Lalas said that they still don't have the pieces needed to be successful and suggested that maybe they move Bradley for 3 quality MLS starters, but who is TFC going to get to make a dumb trade like that? I have to agree that there's way to much uncertainty at the top of the organization and the fact that Vanney hasn't done well makes them lean towards another roster blow up in the cards.

[OgtheDim]

I was watching the SS-LAG halftime report and the question was raised: What should Toronto FC do next? The analysts honestly seemed to be at a loss for a solution. Lalas said that they still don't have the pieces needed to be successful and suggested that maybe they move Bradley for 3 quality MLS starters, but who is TFC going to get to make a dumb trade like that? I have to agree that there's way to much uncertainty at the top of the organization and the fact that Vanney hasn't done well makes them lean towards another roster blow up in the cards.

I almost threw something at the screen when Lalas suggested they trade Bradley.

They have no clue. Trolling.

[jloome]

I almost threw something at the screen when Lalas suggested they trade Bradley.

They have no clue. Trolling.

Keep in mind Lalas helped to turn the La Galaxy into a losing team; that takes some doing.

[[NBF]]

I guess Jloome beat me to a thread about the rebuild, but here's my players to build on for next year based on the current lineup and players signed.


----------------------------------1.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------2. Bendik--------------------------------
----------------------------------3.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.[X]----------------1.[X]------------1. Henry----------1.Morrow
2.Bloom-----------2.Haggalund---------2.[X]--------------2.Morgan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------1.Jackson-----------1.Bradley--------------------
------------------2.Creavalle-----------2.Warner---------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Moore----------------------1.Defoe------------------------1.[X]-
2.Osorio-----------------------2.[X]-------------------------2.Bekker
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------1.Gilberto-----------------------------
--------------------------------2.Oduro-------------------------------

Loaned Out:

1. Roberts
2. Aparacio
3. Manella
4. Lovitz

Released:

1. Konopka
2. Dike
3. Wiedeman
4. Hall
5. Richter
6. Orr
7. Caldwell

[ensco]

I was watching the SS-LAG halftime report and the question was raised: What should Toronto FC do next? The analysts honestly seemed to be at a loss for a solution. Lalas said that they still don't have the pieces needed to be successful and suggested that maybe they move Bradley for 3 quality MLS starters, but who is TFC going to get to make a dumb trade like that? I have to agree that there's way to much uncertainty at the top of the organization and the fact that Vanney hasn't done well makes them lean towards another roster blow up in the cards.

As if there is such a thing as a trade for a $6M a year DP that you paid a $6M fee and at least 2x market value for.

[OgtheDim]

I guess Jloome beat me to a thread about the rebuild, but here's my players to build on for next year based on the current lineup and players signed.


----------------------------------1.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------2. Bendik--------------------------------
----------------------------------3.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.[X]----------------1.[X]------------1. Henry----------1.Morrow
2.Bloom-----------2.Haggalund---------2.[X]--------------2.Morgan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------1.Jackson-----------1.Bradley--------------------
------------------2.Creavalle-----------2.Warner---------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Moore----------------------1.Defoe------------------------1.[X]-
2.Osorio-----------------------2.[X]-------------------------2.Bekker
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------1.Gilberto-----------------------------
--------------------------------2.Oduro-------------------------------

Loaned Out:

1. Roberts
2. Aparacio
3. Manella
4. Lovitz

Released:

1. Konopka
2. Dike
3. Wiedeman
4. Hall
5. Richter
6. Orr
7. Caldwell

I like that thinking formation wise but reality is somewhat different. Defoe ain't playing anywhere but off the shoulder of a defender. He hasn't got the temperament to pull back into the hole.

[flamehawk]

I was watching the SS-LAG halftime report and the question was raised: What should Toronto FC do next? The analysts honestly seemed to be at a loss for a solution. Lalas said that they still don't have the pieces needed to be successful and suggested that maybe they move Bradley for 3 quality MLS starters, but who is TFC going to get to make a dumb trade like that? I have to agree that there's way to much uncertainty at the top of the organization and the fact that Vanney hasn't done well makes them lean towards another roster blow up in the cards.

Video initial B was referring to -> http://www.espnfc.com/major-league-s.../video/2098031

[flamehawk]

I almost threw something at the screen when Lalas suggested they trade Bradley.

They have no clue. Trolling.

However unlikely, I wonder if with Lewieke's exit and the continued failures at TFC, MLSE just decides to unload all the heavy DP contracts (such as trading Bradley away), rent BMO out to Argos, and run the club with a minimum budget. Their original plans did involve being happy with 10,000 average attendance..

[flamehawk]

I guess Jloome beat me to a thread about the rebuild, but here's my players to build on for next year based on the current lineup and players signed.


----------------------------------1.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------2. Bendik--------------------------------
----------------------------------3.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.[X]----------------1.[X]------------1. Henry----------1.Morrow
2.Bloom-----------2.Haggalund---------2.[X]--------------2.Morgan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------1.Jackson-----------1.Bradley--------------------
------------------2.Creavalle-----------2.Warner---------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Moore----------------------1.Defoe------------------------1.[X]-
2.Osorio-----------------------2.[X]-------------------------2.Bekker
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------1.Gilberto-----------------------------
--------------------------------2.Oduro-------------------------------

Loaned Out:

1. Roberts
2. Aparacio
3. Manella
4. Lovitz

Released:

1. Konopka
2. Dike
3. Wiedeman
4. Hall
5. Richter
6. Orr
7. Caldwell

I guess you didn't hear the rumours of Henry and Gilberto being sold and the pretty much done deal Defoe exit. But other than that, I agree with much of your ranking, though I wouldn't have Moore as my 1st ranked right winger, and while I do play Jackson as a DM in Football Manager, I wonder how he'd really do in our setup - I do think he has the skill set to do the job.

[Gringo Starr]

If Redknapp gets sacked at QPR is there still somewhere for Defoe to land overseas?

[Soccerpro]

Our first priority needs to be a CB.
we need a replacement for Defoe.
we need a partner for Bradley if Osorio isnt going to play with him (not Warner or Bekker)
we need some wingers. Jackson and Oduro or Osorio on the wing hasn't gone too well this year.

Not impossible to fix, but no faith they can do it.

We will have some money if some players get sold/released (cough DeRo)

[OgtheDim]

However unlikely, I wonder if with Lewieke's exit and the continued failures at TFC, MLSE just decides to unload all the heavy DP contracts (such as trading Bradley away), rent BMO out to Argos, and run the club with a minimum budget. Their original plans did involve being happy with 10,000 average attendance..

Bogers doesn't do public failure and has no history of shutting down stuff like this that quickly.

An honest assessment is developing that this team is not far away from success. Failure to get to the stated goal? Yes. Failure to move towards that goal? That's not what we are getting from TFC personnel. B

[prizby]

I guess Jloome beat me to a thread about the rebuild, but here's my players to build on for next year based on the current lineup and players signed.


----------------------------------1.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------2. Bendik--------------------------------
----------------------------------3.[X]----------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.[X]----------------1.[X]------------1. Henry----------1.Morrow
2.Bloom-----------2.Haggalund---------2.[X]--------------2.Morgan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------1.Jackson-----------1.Bradley--------------------
------------------2.Creavalle-----------2.Warner---------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.Moore----------------------1.Defoe------------------------1.[X]-
2.Osorio-----------------------2.[X]-------------------------2.Bekker
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------1.Gilberto-----------------------------
--------------------------------2.Oduro-------------------------------

Loaned Out:

1. Roberts
2. Aparacio
3. Manella
4. Lovitz

Released:

1. Konopka
2. Dike
3. Wiedeman
4. Hall
5. Richter
6. Orr
7. Caldwell

Defoe as a #10, Bekker, Moore, on the wings; 150k/year on Bendik as back-up; jackson as a centre mid; henry is likely gone; gotta feeling oso might be too; not to mention defoe...there is so much wrong with this, it isn't even close to a representation of what tfc would look like next year

[pdubs]

Defoe as a #10, Bekker, Moore, on the wings; 150k/year on Bendik as back-up; jackson as a centre mid; henry is likely gone; gotta feeling oso might be too; not to mention defoe...there is so much wrong with this, it isn't even close to a representation of what tfc would look like next year

just going to post exactly this.

[Still Kicking]

Best to look at the offseason rebuild as a series of moves.

TFC has potentially four picks in the first round of the college draft. The TFC pick, the Chivas USA pick (Bocanegra deal), the Portland Timbers pick (Urutti-Dike trade) and a conditional pick from Seattle (Frei trade).
Although I am no fan of the Bez/Vanney leadership, the Bez/Nelsen combo came out of MLS college draft 2014 w Hagglund and Lovitz. So, hoping that a repeat of that level of quality (times two) would add to the team is fair. It is rare for a star player to emerge from the college ranks, but a depth forward, midfielder and defender would help. You can't rule out picking up a keeper. Four picks in the first round of twenty odd is a considerable amount.

TFC could potentially lose players (max two?) in the expansion draft w NYCFC and Orlando
Don't know if internet chatter that Mark Bloom to Orlando would please him plays into this. I think that losing Jackson or Oduro contributes to my dream of a rebuilt midfield.

TFC could gain a player in a dispersal draft of Chivas USA players?
This is a tricky, speculative area. Nothing official has been said yet. I think for maximum MLS strangeness this process should work out with Toronto using the Chivas USA draft pick that was obtained in exchange for the rights to Carlos Bocanegra and then Toronto should use a subsequent dispersal draft of Chivas USA players to choose Carlos Bocanegra.

TFC is able to sign new international players due to roster space and a potentially higher salary cap.
TFC has a number of International Player spots on the roster. MLS teams start with 8. TFC had one more than that through a trade but it is about to expire. If Bradley Orr's loan ends I think TFC will have 3 International player spots to fill on the 2015 roster. Presently Caldwell, Orr, Jackson, Defoe, Moore, Gilberto take up those spots. Oduro has a green card. The spots used for Cesar and Rey were never refilled. Unless MLS has a roster exemption for discovery signings, it appears that it is wise to sign new players after the Orlando/NYC expansion draft. Otherwise you have to protect your new signing and potentially not protect a player you could otherwise keep if you got the timing right. Plus it is time to negotiate a new MLS/players collective bargaining agreement. Bez at the bbq speculated that the salary cap could go up by a million dollars. When the management side is mentioning such a leap, it will be interesting to see just where the cap ends up.

So an offseason tactic of stand pat and tinker is practically impossible. You prepare for one or two players out the door due to the expansion draft and an influx of seven players just based on your first round draft picks and filling all International Player roster spots.

[Oldtimer]

I think for maximum MLS strangeness this process should work out with Toronto using the Chivas USA draft pick that was obtained in exchange for the rights to Carlos Bocanegra and then Toronto should use a subsequent dispersal draft of Chivas USA players to choose Carlos Bocanegra.

That would be awesome! Essentially TFC would be trading Carlos Bocanegra for Carlos Bocanegra! Only in MLS could this happen!

[arsenal]

Best to look at the offseason rebuild as a series of moves.

TFC could gain a player in a dispersal draft of Chivas USA players?
This is a tricky, speculative area. Nothing official has been said yet. I think for maximum MLS strangeness this process should work out with Toronto using the Chivas USA draft pick that was obtained in exchange for the rights to Carlos Bocanegra and then Toronto should use a subsequent dispersal draft of Chivas USA players to choose Carlos Bocanegra.

Bocanegra has retired http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...irement-soccer