"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
Yeah, lessons never learned and all that. Corporate communication have backslid badly in the era of rarely having to answer hard questions or prepare for the worst.
They should be way ahead of this. Instead, Ali's sending out text's saying "dont' ask', which even in these blighted media times ain't going to fly.
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/KristianJack/status/1398106414300737536?s=19
KJ with a "we knew something was wrong back then" tweet. I also remember TSN openly indicating Cruz Azul was looking at Jozy and they were the team that almost grabbed him in January.
Frankly, Jozy leaving, in and of itself, doesn't move the needle either way for this team revenue wise. TFC is so out of people's radar in this town.
His replacement as a DP might but not at the Poz or Soteldo level. The only thing that gets interest back is a big name. Otherwise, they have to be fun and competitive again.
I would agree... Two things jump out at me... "The sources added that Altidore was upset at being replaced by Ayo Akinola in the 70th minute of Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Orlando City, and confronted Armas over his decision to take him off with the Reds in need of a goal. The sources added that Altidore hasn't been fined." and "The development is the latest sign that Altidore wants out of Toronto". A guy wanting to stay in to win doesn't sound like a guy who wants out. AND Ali is quoted in the article.
Akinola has to be better if Jozy is done. You all know I love Mullinho, but he has been our best striker this year. That isn't good that he is out playing a DP and our breakout star from last year.
As shocking this may seem, but it's true!
Mullinho had clearly more influence on the games played (per minute) than Jozy or Ayo.
Now the sad thing is that IMO any MLS team which has a best forward like Mullinho, has no business being elsewhere other than the bottom 6 MLS teams.
My bet is somebody knows somebody else and Cruz Azul did TFC brass a favour leaking a rumour they had no intention of acting on. Nobody is going to come for Altidore on his $3.5 million dollar salary at his current rate of performance.
More likely, the Cruz Azul leak was the advertisement that essentially said player for sale. And now? No takers, at least not at a level that doesnt see TFC eat the cost. Hence the spilt milk and frustration.
Last edited by ag futbol; 05-28-2021 at 07:02 AM.
"The sources added that Altidore was upset at being replaced by Ayo Akinola in the 70th minute "
I find it hard to believe that this is the reason Jozy was upset. Jozy has been all about mentoring and supporting Ayo. I can't see him doing something that would blatantly set him back. I think that statement is more about the media making a guess at what's going on. I could see it being more likely that Jozy was upset with the tactics, like we're down a goal maybe we need two strikers or being upset that players are being played out of position and calling out Armas on it.
My speculation: the problem started in MLS Cup 2019, Jozy has never gotten over being a sub in that game. But the bigger picture is, Altidore is upset for exactly the same reason Seba was upset. He is being asked to play out his final year, and thinks this is a sign of disrespect. Suspect this also has some symmetry with the Dero situation way back when, ie Jozy feels he has been told things verbally at some point that aren’t happening. So I think he is saying, if that is how you feel, move me, to a place I want to be.
Which is all complicated by the fact that TFC would have to eat dollars to move Jozy.
Not surprisingly, it may not get sorted until the summer window.
If I am wrong, and this is as reported, which I don't buy, ie a problem between Armas and Jozy, then Armas could really be gone soon. But that seems less likely to me.
Last edited by ensco; 05-28-2021 at 08:31 AM.
"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
I can see it being all those things at the same time. There's clearly been a rift between Jozy and the club for a while. I suspect Armas is also sending a message to the other players who is in charge here, so that's probably at play too.
If, as everyone is saying, TFC is open to offers for Jozy, the one thing that doesn't make sense to me is why leak that he's a troublesome player? Not sure that's helpful if you want to move him on.
In fairness, Dero was playing well above the value of his contract and in Gios case, what he wanted didnt seem terribly off market. For Altidore, its either buyout or extension at really low dollars (which in itself is dubious).
My guess is they both want a buyout but the sticking point is dollars. On the one side youve got Altidore who still wants to get paid. On the other, youve got Curtis who is trying not to look like an idiot for signing that contract in the first place.
So the situation continues to drag on and eventually frustrations have boiled over. Altidore probably is hearing from his agent there is interest but that can only happen if TFC essentially foots the bill.
FWIW
Jozy's final year is 2022 - his contract was heavily front loaded, possibly to the point where he becomes easily tradeable next season within the league. That's why my spec is this is about playing time & being seen to be effective prior to the July trade window. Its in Jozy's best interest to get a trade in July based on being effective now rather then next based on his history.
I would note that Molinaro's source affirms he's not training with the team but doesn't say why.
Regardless of who is at fault, it's sad to see the current state of affairs with Jozy. He's a TFC legend and I really hope things work out for him here.
I really don't know what this team is going to do at striker. If you looks at the stats between Jozy, Mullinho and Ayo so far this campaign they are horrendous.
It seems like the system (if there is one) that Armas has put in place, really puts the striker on an island by himself with no support.
The hope with Jozy up front would be if he can form a relationship with Soteldo and the Shaff to make something happen from crosses or slick through balls in to the box.
Soteldo out now....funny because he's in the social media pics a lot this week
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/djcuse/status/1398351335569899522
This team is a mess. I wish the All for One documentaries weren't propaganda pieces and could actually give us some insight to what's happening here.
Armas needs to go for real. Everyone getting injured at PRACTICE.
The injury isn't even the worst thing here - how are we so bad at communication that the first confirmation of this is from Venezuela? It's like the team have forgotten that supporters even exist
Why is it ALWAYS thigh injuries this season
It would probably fall under the 'competitive strategy' line that Curtis dropped today when denying to comment on Jozy's availability tomorrow. I understood this type of thing when playing in the CCL as it was a real tourney but going all stealth for a May Saturday afternooner in Columbus?
what's worrying is that soteldo has basically not gotten injured up until now, missing under a month total in his entire career (according to transfermarkt).
https://www.transfermarkt.us/yeferso...spieler/312294
Such an absurd, bullshit answer. More likely he didn't know yet and wanted to sound strategic in the moment.
Either we have the world's worst physio and training regimen, to be getting all these muscle problems, or some players are trying to make life very hard for a coach they'd like to jettison, double time. Probably not the latter; most pros I've talked to like winning too much to tank anything on purpose.
But it's odd that a guy who has basically never been injured long-term comes to us at 23 and is immediately out, at the same time as our other skilled playmakers.
Does Armas speak Spanish?
Last edited by jloome; 05-28-2021 at 03:30 PM.
Might just keep reposting this for the next few weeks
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/Eric_Giacometti/status/1398102639645188099