So I wonder how many of us, when thinking about TFC's chances in this match with our heads and not our hearts, thought that we are going to win?
Maybe 5% of us?
Truth is that TFC 's game was a lot better than we expected (but of course not something we should be raving about), and Philly's game was a lot worse than we expected.
“Years have gone by and I’ve 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 don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
“Years have gone by and I’ve 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 don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Agreed.
A player can only be as good as the position his coach puts him in. He's brutal at times in a 4-4-2 at RB yet looks very promising as a wing back.
We played a 3-4-3 yesterday which suits him perfect. He also looks good as wingback in a 3-5-2.
Honestly, given the personal yesterday the 3-4-3 was a great formation for us and worked very well.
Morrow looks more versatile between full back and wingback but looked great as left wing back yesterday. Just don't play Morrow as a winger
The minute Ciman, Moor or Mavinga get injured, we're basically screwed because Auro or Zavelta will be put in positions they suck in. I'd honestly prioritize CB over a winger.
Auro has shown he can do it. He was very solid defensively in CCL last year. He particularly had a nice game at BMO against America.
But he does seem to need to figure out better how/when to push forward. Morrow is great at this.
When Auro played with Hagglund and Zavaleta on the back line, this flaw got exposed, there was no coverage, it was a grease fire.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
I wouldn't ever say that Oso is a bust but I think it's fair for people to question the use of TAM on him. IMO DP and TAM players should be held to a higher standard since we occupy valuable assets on retaining them.
The more responsibility Oso gets he seems to prove time and time again that he is a supporting cast mate. He has never and likely will never be the guy to take the team on his shoulders. When thrust into the role he tends to try to do too much and ends up ineffective. Is he an awful player? No, not by any means. His work rate is pretty inarguable as well, although I'm not sure I've seen anyone on here legitimately question that.
I think it all boils down to this - could we do equal or better than Oso with a non TAM player? IMO we definitely could, even within MLS. Another interesting thing to consider re: Oso is how much of a cap hit is he worth? I would be curious to learn how much TAM we are using to buy down his contract. What cap hit is FO comfortable with in regards to Oso - remember if he's on 650K we could be using say 500K of TAM to take him down to 150k, for example. I think this is an interesting component when weighing in Oso's merits. I suspect we would be using a fair amount of TAM on him to keep the cap hit minimal. However, if we've bought him down to a CBA max deal I think there are questions to be asked.
On VDW: he posted himself watching the game yesterday. Thought that was interesting as in he either still cares or is trying to show himself as caring.
Oso TAM: the league is and will continue to grow meaning more dollars to spend on players. It’s just as easy to spend TAM on an unknown like Aketxe and not get anything out of it. I am happy oso got the contract because Canadians generally get the short and end of the stick. He ranted it and like every other player needs to ensure he continues to play st the same level. He will have good and bad days, and that is normal.
Just looked back to last season. We’re halfway to meeting last years total road wins already!
I do not dislike Osorio. Having said that (again), I maintain he was never our best player (if he was that says something about our MLS record last year), and it was a mistake giving him that huge contract.
It all returns to the Seba and Victor factor. Last season, Seba played more of an attacking mid (his natural position), and, instead of driving to the net all the time, used other players, such as Osorio, to finish (all of those simple tap ins). With VV, Seba had a terrific season, despite injuries, and it was always evident, that Osorio rarely created anything himself, out of nothing (a few great exceptions). His 2018 was much like Morrows 2017. Players who, on their own, are not stellar, but took advantage of terrific opportunities around goal.
In my opinion, the only way Osorio comes close to 2018 productivity, is if this new Poz continues where VV and Seba left off, pushing Osorio into a more forward role. This matters because if I see this, I hope front office does to, and redoubles its efforts to sign better players.
It bothered me that he was given that penalty. A player like him cannot be given more than a second or two on the ball, because the more thought he puts into it, the more he screws up.
Oso's problem is he see's himself as something he is not!
As mentioned by another member today he should model himself after Bradley - defending strongly and move the ball quickly
He has poor offensive instincts and a very high panic level - not an attacking option for a good team
Loyal - Win, lose or draw!
Weston, Ontario
Oso is held to a very different standard than our other skilled players. I don’t get it and I am always going to stand up for him. He was our player of the year last year and some in this board are incredibly critical of his overall play essentially because he stupidly gave up a penalty. It’s like they notice his mistakes but not his good moments.
Was his game against philly as good as his play last year? No. Did his play last year, given his age and other potential opportunities deserve the contract he got? Beyond doubt - you can argue about the exact dollars, but surelybeing the golden boot in the CCL demonstrates his quality and that he deserved to be signed to a significant raise.
Oso is a very skilled technical player. He is at his best when he plays with other skilled technical players, but surely that’s what we want - players who excel at the highest level of competition we play and in those critical moments, as he did last year.
He isn’t a DP. He isn’t paid to dominate the games like Seba did. And he isn’t VV, who was a DP in everything but salary as Vanney as said. It’s shockingly unfair for people to dump on Oso for not dominating a game the way Seba or VV can (even though he has on occasion, when on the pitch with other skilled players ).
Plus, he’s one of ours. We should be celebrating his successes and at least have some forgiveness for his failures. Yet some seem to do the opposite: ignore his contributions and trash him for any error.
Yesterday he made a very good contribution to the game but made two glaring errors. Fair play to criticize on the penalty miss but it doesn’t alter the fact that he is a skilled important player on our team, and deserves our encouragement and support to build on what was a great year last year.
Last edited by MightyDM; 03-03-2019 at 12:44 PM.
The annual Osorio debate lol
It’s not wrong to say he’s overpaid at 850 k, considering Drew Moor gets half of that
He’s a good possession player and he’s also had some clutch moments for us in big moments. Also he’s the Canadian kid so it’s ideal for marketing and he doesn’t take away an international roster spot. He’s decent on both sides of the ball but obviously isn’t an elite player in the final third and never will be. That said he’s gotten better at scoring goals and finding his team mates and doesn’t panic as much. He’s worth 500 k a year IMO
I feel for Bono it's all come down to that free kick he gave up in the champions league game here at BMO field last year. I don't ever recall him looking so bad, and making the wrong decisions so often prior to that particular goal. When he took the goal from Irwin, I remember being so impressed at how many shots he would stop, breakaways, whatever. He was always there, could hold the ball, clear it away. Now, it's like he has no hands, just stubs on the ends of his arms, and he doesn't save those shots he used to either.
For me, it all comes back to that goal that ruined his confidence, and has made him mentally fragile.
Yes it is wrong to say he is overpaid. It would be right to say that Drew Moor is underpaid. It is the thing I hate most about MLS...the constant debate over whether a player is worth his published salary. The quicker they get rid of the DP rule, TAM, GAM, Allocation Domestic, Allocation International, etc...the better. If they allow Toronto a $28 Million salary budget - then that should be the salary cap for every team in the league. Use the salary cap as you see fit. i would much rather have 28 players making $1 Million each than this idiotic system. We would see a much better quality of football if this were allowed.
We have one player that has developed through the system at Toronto and makes good. Has a great couple of seasons at the highest levels and all you here is how no one likes him, no one thinks he's good enough, he's overpaid, MLSE is wasting their money, etc... it is a very depressing state of affairs. If you really want to get mad about wasted money...you shouldn't get past the discussion over the Aketxe and VdW signings. Oh but they are European's... they must be good...better than Canucks.
Not a rant at you Defoe...just a rant at the whole "Kid from Toronto can't be good" trope.
The guy earned his new contract with this alone, really.
Regardless of his nationality.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”