http://www.football-italia.net/74096...o-linked-barca
So Seba's going to Barca ... Errrr
Does InBev buying Mill Street count as a player move?
Don't buy it, Barca is going for Nolito
True, but unlike Donovan Seba came from Europe, would be readily accepted there and would be very marketable (the European who conquered America and came home). I'm not saying the Barcelona rumour is true or false I'm just saying there's more intangible elements to Seba to Europeans teams, other than scoring ability, than Donovan, Bradley or Dempsey would've/could've had.
this is not really valid for 2 reasons....
1) Barca doesn't wear the "European" flag, or Spain for that matter, at all.....they pretty much represent the city and Catalonia only.
2) MLS is still generally seen as a poor quality league in Italy, so the fact that a European "conquered America" would be nothing to brag about for sure to them.
Personally, I wouldn't be too worried about Giovinco leaving for another European team.....if another Italian team comes calling, I'd be a little more concerned, but even still it would be a long shot he goes back imo, as long as he can play for TFC and still stay in the Azzurri picture.
He's given no indication to wanting to leave, and not only that but seems to be integrating himself with Toronto (ie. his "stir it up" Jays goal celebration at last home game), is being paid well, and is able to go about living his life without the media interference like in Italy.
Ok so, looking into the winter transfer market, what areas do TFC need? And which players are out of here. For me we need:
1)Starting CB
2)If you can open up our cap, I would use TAM spot on a DM
3)New starting keeper
4)If there is cap space remaining, depth wide player/starter for when we play our 4-4-2 that can play the outside of the diamond in the mid field
I think we are set up top with Seba and Jozy, with Moore and Gomez off the bench. At first I thought we needed to get a fullback (RB), but I actually like Jackson there. Resign Morrow, and your depth is Morgan and Bloom next year. The players I would get rid of (or try to anyways) would be Kantari, Findley and Joe Bendik. If we can get rid of these 3 guys, it would shave $600,000 to $650,000 off the cap. Looking at that, it doesn't look like that will be enough to cover the first 3. Maybe the first 2, but probably not 3 and definitely not 4. Plus, Morrow is in for a raise this season, as his contract is up this year. Thoughts?
I think a DM to replace Cheyrou as starter is the biggest concern. A destroyer DM with ability to cover a lot of ground and make a good first pass, because Vanney likes to attack, and the DM has to do a good job of cleaning up esp getting counter attacked.
We can always upgrade CBs (and almost every position for that matter) but defending in MLS improves more with team chemistry and experience in the league. I think we have a set back 4 of Morrow-Perquis-Williams-Jackson. Not necessarily world beaters, but they are good enough for now. I like the depth we have with Kantari as 3rd CB, with Hagglund, Simonin, Zavaleta who all have potential to be decent MLSers, and I'm really high on Simonin. Skylar Thomas from TFC 2 is looking decent as well.
I suppose Kantari is expensive for 3rd CB and he'd be my first guy to replace with a cheaper veteran MLSer.
I'm hoping that with a set back 4 who have played together, the defence will be more efficient. To me, that's preferable than trying to break in another guy (esp a foreign player) and have that guy learn the system.
Get a good DM, and I think TFC will be a harder team to beat.
(And yes. Laba is precisely the DM I think would make TFC nearly unbeatable... but let's not get into that debate again)
Years have gone by and Ive finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: A pretty move, for the love of God.
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I dont give a damn which team or country performs it.
-Eduardo Galeano
Out
- Gomez
- Moore
- Hagglund (loan)
- Perquis/Kantari
- Bendik
- Konopka?
In
- back up hold up striker
- Starting centreback
- Starting Goalkeeper
- Cheap wing option
- DM (TAM)
FWIW Tottenham and Liverpool also interested in Seba
http://readliverpoolfc.com/2015/10/1...happy-toronto/
I think one of Gomez and Moore stays. Konopka will also stay.
Seba isn't going anywhere. Unlike Beckham, he can get his European football fix from his national team.
Tottenham was the first club I thought of who would most likely bid for Seba. They have money to spend and they need depth in the forward position.
I'd be a little surprised if Manny Aparicio is still around next year, he's not even good at USL level and is taking up a valuable senior spot. Lovitz will likely be replaced by Mo Babouli on the senior roster although they may find room for that left foot of Lovitz towards the end of the bench. The team won't (or at least shouldn't) keep six center backs and they will sign a fairly high priced one over the off-season. I think they will go with: Williams, New Signing, Kantari, Perquis and Thomas, They may try and find room for Simonin at the expense of one of Perquis or Kantari but Hagglund (not Vanney's guy) and Zavaleta are almost certainly on the way out. Hagglund can be a starter in this league and Zavaleta will be around for a while I think but TFC has way too many center backs and not enough clear starters.
In this league, you need 6 CD's.
Thomas is not replacing Simonin or Zavaleta. He's USL level still. They will be keeping these 6. Perquis had a massive game yesterday before his injury, but I suspect is done for the season. Teams go with 3 starting CD's and rotate/bring in for injury.
Montreal went with 4 CB this year (Ciman, Lefevere, Cabrera and Camara) and Vancouver went with 5 (Parker, Kah, Waston, Dean and Rodriguez) and Dean and Rodriguez barely played. 5 is really the maximum you need and you should plan on that fifth guy being a USL starter because he won't see the field much for the first team. Thomas has the same pedigree as all of the other NCAA center backs on Toronto's roster and has looked good this year both for TFC2 and the U-23 team. His domestic/Canadian status gives him a roster advantage and he's on a cheap contract.
Giovinco: 'Happy with Italy and Toronto'
By Football Italia staff
Sebastian Giovinco is “happy to travel half-way round the world” for Italy and committed himself to Toronto FC.
“It was a difficult match, but we got it back on track, which wasn’t easy against this Norway. We had a good game,” he told Rai Sport after a 2-1 victory.
“This is the most important thing for me, to wear the Italy jersey, and I’m sure all my teammates feel the same way. I am happy to travel half-way round the world to come here and play.”
This week Giovinco was linked with a move to Treble-winners Barcelona, but he’s committed to Toronto FC and MLS.
“No, I’m happy where I am. I only just changed club, so let me enjoy this adventure first.”