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  1. #1441
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    Quote Originally Posted by barticusz View Post
    It's funny, no one seems to call him Harry Potter anymore.
    But Harry Potter was a hero....
    and a Magician!

  2. #1442
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    Quote Originally Posted by Captain View Post
    But Harry Potter was a hero....
    and a Magician!
    He's a wizard and more Harry Potter than ever before!

  3. #1443
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    Quote Originally Posted by shwade View Post
    He's a wizard and more Harry Potter than ever before!
    Geesh , not sure why the word magician is what came to my mind.

  4. #1444
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    Quote Originally Posted by Huyton View Post
    It was not that long ago that we wanted a "cap-ologist" to manage the arcane rules of the MLS salary cap.

    Perhaps the best signing that TFC has ever made is not Bradley, Altidore, Seba or Vazquez, but rather Tim Bezbatchenko.

    The way he's going is a mixed blessing; he's been so brilliant he'll be the next Ivan Gazidis in short order, chairman of a prem or la liga club.

    You know the larger clubs will take notice of a turnaround from "worst team in the world" to "one of the best on the continent."

  5. #1445
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    Quote Originally Posted by jloome View Post
    The way he's going is a mixed blessing; he's been so brilliant he'll be the next Ivan Gazidis in short order, chairman of a prem or la liga club.

    You know the larger clubs will take notice of a turnaround from "worst team in the world" to "one of the best on the continent."
    I could easily see a lower table EPL team taking him on for his "moneyball" abilities.

    Quote Originally Posted by barticusz View Post
    Planted ? No. Bez didn't come I to the role with all the skills he has now. He had the numbers but he's grown to become a very good recruiter as well. He likely absorbed a lot from Tim L and is now just running with it.

    He is the absolutely among the most important hires in club history. It's funny, no one seems to call him Harry Potter anymore.

    Can't wait to see what's next.

    Bez already knew a lot about identifying decent North American players from his work at the league office.

    What he learned from Tim L was how to identify and sign top level foreign talent, the "Beckhams" of the soccer world. Somehow, now that he's learned this, combining his capology expertise with his international signings, it's looking like we're going to be having the equivalent of a 5-6 DP team. That's good enough to potentially win the CCL.

    Without Bez (and Tim L) the triple would not have happened.
    Last edited by Oldtimer; 02-15-2018 at 01:39 PM.

  6. #1446
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    Bez has a lot of work to do still. We are a good team. We are not yet a dynasty. Heck, I don't expect this team to repeat last year's results. That's not due to the players or management - I just think its really hard in a parity league to repeat that sort of dominance.

    HOWEVER, if we were to be as dominant as last year (maybe minus the MLS Cup & Supporter's Shield) each year for the next 5 years, then Bez has done something unheard of.

    In most European leagues, you can count on 2-4 teams that will always be near the top. We have the chance to be the first MLS team to do that since the league expanded beyond the initial small group. The real test will be in 2021 when we turn over from the current DP's & 30+ guys to somebody else.

    To me, that is the next test for Bez & Vanney. Consistent winning as an expected outcome.

  7. #1447
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    Pretty hard to be a five-year dynasty in a salary cap league. I'd settle for three years like LA or DC.

  8. #1448
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oldtimer View Post
    I could easily see a lower table EPL team taking him on for his "moneyball" abilities.




    Bez already knew a lot about identifying decent North American players from his work at the league office.

    What he learned from Tim L was how to identify and sign top level foreign talent, the "Beckhams" of the soccer world. Somehow, now that he's learned this, combining his capology expertise with his international signings, it's looking like we're going to be having the equivalent of a 5-6 DP team. That's good enough to potentially win the CCL.

    Without Bez (and Tim L) the triple would not have happened.
    The difference here is that Bez is helped by the Marketplace he is living in. If and when he leaves it will only be to a similar market that can attract players. I do not see him going to a middle of the back EPL team as I don't think they'd have the ability/ownership group to compete with the big dogs. The situation here at TFC was extremely unique. A fantastic/attractive/growing market, a team with a horrendous track record, an ownership group willing to spend to be the best there is in the league.

  9. #1449
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  10. #1450
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oldtimer View Post
    Pretty hard to be a five-year dynasty in a salary cap league. I'd settle for three years like LA or DC.
    I think the way TAM & GAM has been implemented by teams shows some with more ambition can gather more resources & depth. In a league with 20+ teams, those resources go a long way to build success.


    Kind of like how the Loons are going to have a state of the art 19K $200 million arena that can expand up to 25K built before they actually have 1 DP.

  11. #1451
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    Quote Originally Posted by barticusz View Post
    The difference here is that Bez is helped by the Marketplace he is living in. If and when he leaves it will only be to a similar market that can attract players. I do not see him going to a middle of the back EPL team as I don't think they'd have the ability/ownership group to compete with the big dogs. The situation here at TFC was extremely unique. A fantastic/attractive/growing market, a team with a horrendous track record, an ownership group willing to spend to be the best there is in the league.
    This

  12. #1452
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldtraffordPEI View Post

  13. #1453
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldtraffordPEI View Post
    The stronger getting stronger, simple as that.

    Remember The Man, The Legend, The Goal 5-12-07 and All That #9 Left On The Pitch, Thanks For The Memories !!!

  14. #1454
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    Quote Originally Posted by Red CB Toronto View Post
    The stronger getting stronger, simple as that.
    It's just unbevaialble what they have acomplished.

    I love that Axetke and Auro both come in and can make a difference right away but they fit into the long term projection as well.

    I hope we don't lose anyone to make room i.e.: Irwin, Delgado or Osorio. I could live with it for Axetke though that's for sure
    Last edited by Defoe; 02-15-2018 at 08:58 PM.

  15. #1455
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    Still no signing so I'm holding my breat though it seems very likely. Checking his instagram he hasn't made any posts that would allow us to speculate like we did with vanderwiel

  16. #1456
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    Last edited by Areathrasher; 02-16-2018 at 07:56 AM.

  17. #1457
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    Pro tip - x is pronounced like sh in basque. Just in case you need to know...
    “What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”

  18. #1458
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    Quote Originally Posted by Areathrasher View Post
    i missed most of it, but caught the ending where Bez mentioned VdW’s agent actually reached out to them about a move here

  19. #1459
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    Jason Foster@JogaBonito_USA 7m7 minutes agoMore



    Now #TFC have reportedly reached an agreement with #AthleticBilbao for the immediate transfer of Ager Aketxe. The 24 year old will sign a 2 year contract (+1 option year), and Athletic have a buyback option as long as they match other offers. #TFCLive #MLS

  20. #1460
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    Anyone know about this Aketxe? Is he any good?

  21. #1461
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    Last edited by Areathrasher; 02-16-2018 at 09:00 AM.

  22. #1462
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    Quote Originally Posted by Soccer Mum View Post
    Anyone know about this Aketxe? Is he any good?
    Can anyone shed some light on how this name is pronounced? I know someone above said the x was a sh sound. Extra time radio wouldn't even attempt to pronounce it although they did think the tx was pronounced ch.

  23. #1463
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    This is quite the coup for management if they pull this off. Maybe with the repurchase option the price will be low.

  24. #1464
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    I have to admit I've never heard of him before, but this is seeming more and more a big time signing. If the FO has pulled off another "Giovinco" (ie talented Euro top league player looking for more opportunity to be the big star), that would be extraordinary.

    edit:
    On second thought, I have to pull back on the stick a bit here. Aketxe doesn't have the resume that Giovinco came in with, but still seems a significant signing.
    Last edited by Detroit_TFC; 02-16-2018 at 09:21 AM.

  25. #1465
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    "the 24 year old was convinced by the good contract, immediate playing time,"

    I hope he doesn't expect to just walk into the line up. He's going to have to earn his spot on the field. I wonder what has been promised to him that he believes he gets immediate playing time.

  26. #1466
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    Ah-KET-che according to this reddit post

  27. #1467
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    Wait...MLSE sent Friisdahl?

    I don't get that. This is a TAM signing.

  28. #1468
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rodgesico View Post
    Ah-KET-che according to this reddit post
    Thank you. Saves me from mumbling over his name everytime I read it!

  29. #1469
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    The breakfast is being live streamed.

  30. #1470
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    Quote Originally Posted by Captain View Post
    "the 24 year old was convinced by the good contract, immediate playing time,"

    I hope he doesn't expect to just walk into the line up. He's going to have to earn his spot on the field. I wonder what has been promised to him that he believes he gets immediate playing time.
    Maybe he is a consistent enough player to walk right into the line up for maybe Osorio or Delgado.

 

 

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